Nepal arrests six in tourist rescue fraud / Photo: PRAKASH MATHEMA - AFP/File
NYSE - LSE
| CMSC | 0.02% | 23.7 | $ | |
| RIO | -3.92% | 91.54 | $ | |
| SCS | 0.12% | 16.14 | $ | |
| CMSD | -0.05% | 24.049 | $ | |
| BCC | 0.74% | 80.77 | $ | |
| JRI | 0.58% | 13.03 | $ | |
| BTI | 0.82% | 60.71 | $ | |
| GSK | 1.77% | 51.57 | $ | |
| BCE | 1.28% | 25.815 | $ | |
| BP | -0.46% | 37.865 | $ | |
| RBGPF | 1.65% | 83.78 | $ | |
| NGG | -0.04% | 85.015 | $ | |
| RELX | -1.19% | 35.74 | $ | |
| AZN | 0.69% | 93.235 | $ | |
| VOD | -0.48% | 14.64 | $ | |
| RYCEF | -2.69% | 16 | $ |
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.
S.Pfeifer--SbgTB
