The department has imposed a late fee for US $9,650 for 1930 days (at US $5 a day) since December 12, 2004, and a fine of Rs 15,000 on Jonathan Mitchell from Newscastle, UK. [break]
While immigration officials said they were following the laws and “reduced the fine from the maximum permissible of Rs 50,000 on visa violations,” Mitchell said that he has “become a victim of bureaucratic incompetence”.
Mitchell had arrived in Nepal on September 11, 2004, and got a tourist visa for three months.
He was arrested on March 25 this year after he was found without passport and a valid visa. Mitchell has accused the immigration officials of destroying his passport, a charge denied by the officials.
Even the reason of his arrest two weeks ago has differing versions. While the authorities said he was arrested by a police patrol team from Pulchok area after a dispute with Mitchell´s landlord over rent, the British journalists´ friends in the UK point out he was arrested after he went to police station to lodge a complaint over theft.
The officials warned that if the amount is not paid in the next four-five days, they would file a case against Mitchell at the Kathmandu District Court from where he would be sent to Central Jail in Kathmandu.
If cobnvicted, he could face a prison term up to 10 years. At present, he has been detained in one of the rooms at the DoI complex at Maitighar, Kathmandu.
Mitchell told Republica that he had “overstayed a bit” but the accrued sum -- calculated on tourist visa -- was unjustified since he had obtained a press visa in May 2005.
The DoI officials dispute this, saying he never got one. An inquiry with the Department of Information which recommends press visa for journalists revealed that the department had not issued any letter for the press visa.
The officials point out that they have dealt with the journalist in a very humane manner, allowing him a use of his laptop daily for three-four hours as well as telephone.
“We would have sent him to the Central Jail but are giving him some more time so that his family and friends could collect the amount to get him released,” said another official on condition of anonymity.
Mitchell, on the other hand, said his detention has violated his human rights.
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