London
6 °C
Manchester
Glasgow
Dublin
8 °C
Belfast
Washington
Denver
-10 °C
Atlanta
-6 °C
Dallas
Houston Texas
New Orleans
-2 °C
El Paso
Phoenix
Los Angeles
-25 °C
24 °C
-32 °C
7 °C
21 °C
-4 °C
Nepal arrests six in tourist rescue fraud / Photo: PRAKASH MATHEMA - AFP/File
NYSE - LSE
| RYCEF | 1.75% | 17.12 | $ | |
| SCS | 0.12% | 16.14 | $ | |
| BTI | 0.26% | 59.32 | $ | |
| NGG | 1.56% | 82.785 | $ | |
| VOD | 1.36% | 14.365 | $ | |
| RIO | 1.59% | 91.89 | $ | |
| RELX | -0.51% | 39.693 | $ | |
| CMSC | 0.42% | 23.75 | $ | |
| GSK | 1.65% | 49.96 | $ | |
| BCC | -0.66% | 83.768 | $ | |
| JRI | -0.08% | 13.6589 | $ | |
| AZN | 0.56% | 93.475 | $ | |
| BP | 0.22% | 36.61 | $ | |
| CMSD | 0.33% | 24.2 | $ | |
| BCE | -0.14% | 25.155 | $ | |
| RBGPF | -1.87% | 82.5 | $ |
Nepal arrests six in tourist rescue fraud
Nepal has arrested six people after an investigation into fraudulent helicopter rescues of travellers in the Himalayan nation in a $1.69 million insurance scam, police said Monday.
Thousands of trekkers visit Nepal every year for its stunning views of the Himalayas and routes lined with picturesque villages -- and emergency helicopter rescues are a critical part of the tourism industry.
Police said they uncovered evidence of multiple insurance claims filed for a single rescue operation, or chartered flights falsely presented as emergency evacuations, and fabricated medical bills issued with the involvement of private hospitals.
The arrests follow a two and a half month investigation by the Central Investigation Bureau that revealed a trail of forged and manipulated documents.
Three companies had claimed insurance payouts of approximately $1.69 million, according to a police statement.
"This has been a long-standing issue and we have been investigating. Six have been arrested and our investigations will continue," Shiva Kumar Shrestha, the bureau's spokesman, told AFP.
A 2018 government probe identified 15 companies -- including helicopter firms, trekking agencies and hospitals -- linked to the lucrative racket. But no action was taken against any of the alleged perpetrators.
Scams continued -- despite Nepal introducing guidelines to control fake rescues following a warning from insurers.
(B.Ramirez--TAG)
