KATHMANDU, March 9: Police have arrested a fraudster for allegedly swindling some 60 persons out of more than Rs 25 million by showing them false hopes of finding attractive jobs in two countries – Kuwait and Malta.
Acting on a complaint filed by the victims, police arrested Baburam Shrestha, 38, a permanent resident of Chhatradev Rural Municipality-7, Arghakhanchi district, from Nepalgunj on Friday.
“The arrested person has swindled nearly 60 foreign job aspirants out of a total of Rs 25.80 million. He [Shrestha] allured them [foreign job aspirants] with a promise to find attractive jobs in foreign countries,” said Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Hobindra Bogati at the Metropolitan Police Range, Teku.
Police arrest fugitive for duping foreign job aspirants
It has been learnt that Shrestha had pocketed Rs 6 million each from 26 persons, promising them attractive jobs in Malta. As per the complaint filed by the alleged victims, Shrestha had allured each of them with a job in Malta with a paycheck of 1,200 Euros a month. Shrestha had asked each of them for Rs 1 million and Rs 600,000 was collected as early installments.
Likewise, Shrestha had also collected Rs 300,000 each from 34 persons for sending them to Kuwait. The alleged victims were shown false hopes of getting jobs in Kuwait that would pay them 2,200 Dirham each as monthly paycheck. The alleged victims were asked for Rs 600,000 each, and Rs 300,000 was collected as early installments.
According to police, Shrestha has been running Glorious Wellness Spa Pvt Ltd on the seventh floor of CTC Mall in Sundhara, Kathmandu, to send foreign job aspirants to foreign land.
“Such cases of fraud have been a big social problem. Manpower companies can easily allure job aspirants with promises of jobs in foreign countries. As Nepalis are obsessed with developed countries, they often believe the false hopes shown by the manpower companies,” Bogati said, adding that youths have been suffering from depression as fraudsters have looted a huge amount of money from them.
After collecting money from the alleged victims by promising them dream jobs in Kuwait and Malta "soon", Shrestha went out of contact.
After the case was filed at the Metropolitan Police Range, Teku, police raided Shrestha's office at the CTC mall and seized 56 passports and other important documents.
In the meantime, police also suspect that Shrestha might be involved in more fraud cases.
According to police, anyone tricked by Shrestha can contact the Metropolitan Police Range, Teku at the earliest.
In another incident, police have arrested one Kamal Prasad Pokharel for swindling some 32 individuals out of more than Rs three million through false promises of finding lucrative jobs in European countries.
