KATHMANDU, DECEMBER 20
The Kaski Public Prosecution has filed additional charges in the Kaski District Court against 19 people, including Gitendra Babu Rai, alias GB Rai, in connection with the embezzlement of cooperative funds from Pokhara-based Surya Darshan Cooperative, which also includes Rastriya Swatantra is involved. Party chairman Rabi Lamichhane.
Former Deputy Prime Minister and Home Affairs Minister Lamichhane has been in custody for two months as part of an investigation into the embezzlement of cooperative funds, money laundering and organized crime.
Speaking to THT, Khyam Narayan Lamichhane, Acting Registrar of Kaski District Court, said: “Today, a supplementary charge sheet has been filed against 19 people, who have already been identified as accused.”
According to him, the amount has increased slightly as a result of the surcharge. The previous figure was about Rs 1.11 billion, which has now been added to 400 million. “The current total amount is about Rs 1.51 billion,” he told THT.
He also stated that “charges are yet to be filed against Lamichhane and other newly accused.”
It was expected that charges would be filed against Lamichhane, who is currently in Kaski police custody, in the case. However, it has been revealed that the case would only be filed against Lamichhane later.
According to the Acting Registrar of the Court, the suspects against whom additional charges were registered today have been recommended for prosecution under the Organized Crime, Money Laundering and National Banking Acts.
Last Monday, police had submitted an investigation report to the Public Prosecution Service, recommending that Lamichhane be charged with cooperative fraud, organized crime and money laundering.
The next day, the Kaski court extended Lamichhane’s detention period for the eighth time, allowing police to keep him in custody for another four days.
Lamichhane was arrested in Kathmandu on October 18 and transferred to Kaski on charges of cooperative fraud.
He was then taken to Rupandehi, Kathmandu, Chitwan and Parsa for interrogation.
On Monday, Kaski police advised that 51 people, including Lamichhane, would be charged with cooperative fraud, organized crime and money laundering.
But Lamichhane and his supporters have claimed he is innocent in the cooperative case.
According to the police report, the damage could amount to Rs 1.51 billion. According to reports, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CIB) has assisted the Kaski police in their investigation into the embezzlement of funds from the Surya Darshan Cooperative.
Even in money laundering cases, there is a legal requirement that the police file a case within 90 days of the start of the investigation.
The case must be registered within that time frame as the period starts on September 22, when Chhabilal Joshi, another owner of Gorkha Media Pvt Ltd, who is accused of the same offense as Lamichhane, was arrested.
Police have recommended that Joshi, along with others involved in the GB Group and cooperative members, be prosecuted.