Two More Arrested in Nepal Fake Rescue Scam

Kathmandu. Police have arrested two more people accused of cheating insurance companies through "fake rescues" of foreign tourists in Nepal’s mountaineering and trekking sectors. The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police is investigating the two individuals, who are involved in the tourism and aviation sectors, for organized crime and acting against the national interest.

Those arrested are 28-year-old Sandeep Tiwari of Royal Holidays Adventure and Travel Company, and 56-year-old Rajendra Bahadur Singh, former Vice President of the Airlines Operators Association of Nepal (AOAN). According to police, Tiwari was taken into custody from Dhading and Singh from Kathmandu. So far, a total of nine people, including owners of trekking companies, rescue agencies, hospitals, and helicopter companies, have been arrested in this case.

During the investigation, it was found that various rescue companies forged "passenger and cargo manifests" by changing details in the records of the Civil Aviation Authority and the airport. They reportedly created fake medical bills, admission records, and discharge reports for foreign tourists to claim large sums of money from international insurance companies.

Due to this fraud, international media had published reports suggesting that Nepal should be removed from tourist destination lists, claiming that cheating was happening at the base of Mount Everest. 

In a press release by Police spokesperson Senior Superintendent of Police Shiva Kumar Shrestha, stated that since this has seriously damaged Nepal's national pride and tourism reputation, legal action is being taken under the Criminal Code 2074 and the Organized Crime Prevention Act 2070.