Court convicts 17, acquits seven in fake Bhutanese refugee scam
KATHMANDU:- The Kathmandu District Court has convicted 17 of the 24 defendants in the high-profile fake Bhutanese refugee scam, while acquitting seven others of all charges.
A single bench of Judge Tej Bahadur Khadka delivered the verdict, finding the accused guilty on charges including fraud, organised crime and offences against the State, depending on their individual involvement in the case, according to Court’s Registrar Ghanendra Adhikari.
Among those convicted are former Home Minister Bal Krishna Khand, who was found guilty of fraud and acting as an accomplice in organised crime, and former Deputy Prime Minister Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, who was convicted of integrated offences relating to organised crime and crimes against the State.
Former Home Secretary Tek Narayan Pandey, Tek Nath Rijal, Sanu Bhandari, Keshav Dulal, Sandesh Sharma, Govinda Chaudhary, Sagar Rai, Angtawa Sherpa and Dr. Indrajit Rai were also convicted.
