KATHMANDU, Feb 2: Police have found employees of some hospitals involved in producing fake PCR test reports of COVID-19 without carrying out swab tests. 

The Metropolitan Crime Control Division said that employees of Nagarik Community Teaching Hospital Ltd at Kaushaltar, Madhyapur Thimi in Bhaktapur and Kantipur Hospital Pvt Ltd at Tinkune, Kathmandu were found involved in the illegal activities. It is said the employees at these hospitals produced fake PCR reports in exchange for a hefty amount. 

The hospital employees were found making fake PCR reports for those people going abroad for employment without collecting their swab samples for test and charging exorbitant fees than the fee determined by the government, said the Division's chief, Senior Superintendent of Police Basanta Bahadur Kunwar. Those going for foreign employment are required to produce PCR negative reports while flying abroad.

Police arrested Roshan Kumar Chhittan of Dhanusha who currently lives in Gwarko, Lalitpur, along with eight fake PCR test reports on Tuesday. Chhittan had Nagarik Community Hospital employee identity card. Police have also arrested Lab Manager Prasanna Kumar Jha of Sarlahi and residing at Kaushaltar. The police made the arrests based on a tip-off. 

Similarly, police arrested Nagendra Kumar Yadav of Dhanusha, an employee of Kantipur Hospital Pvt Ltd who lives in Gaushala of Kathmandu, along with 17 fake PCR reports.

Based on Yadav's statement, police also took under control Madhav Mainali of Kavrepalanchok who works at the same laboratory. Mainali currently lives in Suryabinayak, Bhaktapur.

Police have confiscated computers and other tools used in making fake PCR test reports as well as PCR test registers from the labs of the two hospitals under the witness of representatives from the National Public Health Laboratory, Teku.

The Metropolitan Crime Control Division said they are searching for Bhabesh Mishra and Nirmal Giri, the proprietors of the two labs, and the lab technician who signed the fake PCR reports. Police have also launched an investigation in this connection by sealing off the labs of the two hospitals in question.

It is found that they charged foreign employment aspirants up to Rs 10,000 for making a PCR negative report. They produced the negative report in collusion with the middlemen, the lab staff and the hospital's management. Such reports can also be accessed through QR code as well, it is said.

(RSS)

 
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