The Central Investigation Bureau of Nepal Police today arrested three con men involved in fleecing unemployed youths `with promise of resettling them in Canada as Bhutanese refugees'.

The fraudsters have been identified as Sujan Dahal (31) of Biratnagar, Lok Bahadur Bista (40) of Dadheldhura and Narendra Bhandari (49) of Syangja.

“ W e rounded up the trio from Old Baneshwor acting on a complaint lodged by Bishnu Bahadur Dhakal, a victim,“ informed DSP Pravin Pokharel. Dahal is also a management teacher at Metro College, New Baneshwor.

Bishnu Bahadur Karki (35) of Bandhu, Bajura, doing time in Dilli Bazaar jail for banking fraud and forgery is also said to be associated with the racket.

Kathmandu District Court had sentenced him to three years in prison last year.

Their modus operandi was to forge ID cards of Bhutanese refugees similar to the ones issued by UNHCR, and make their victims cough up Rs 1.2 million each with assurance of resettlement in the US or Canada as Bhutanese refugees.

“They made their victims deposit the money in saving account no.

0101524036963018 of Putalisadak-based Kumari Bank and gave them fake refugee ID cards of `Canada for UNHCR' to fleece the people,“ said DSP Pokharel.

According to investiga tors, the charlatans have already cheated 16 persons since 2007.

The bank account was opened in the name of American-European Edu cation Council Pvt Ltd in Putalisadak.

Police have recovered Rs 825,500 from the bank ac count. According to DSP Pokharel, the bank account details suggest that the American-European Edu cation Council Pvt Ltd had a transaction of Rs 23.32 million in the last two years. “The enterprise was registered in Bista's name.

He is also a Nepali Con gress leader of Dadheldhu ra,“ according to CIB.

CIB has information that 136 unsuspecting people were in their contact for re settlement in Canada as Buhatanese refugees. With the trio's arrest, the law po lice have been able to save more than 100 people from being cheated. Officials also raided their office in Putalisadak and recovered counterfeit documents and refugee ID cards, in cluding that of Mukund Singh Airi (photo).

The con men have been handed over to Kathman du police.

Published on: 4 July 2011 | The Himalayan Times