KATHMANDU, MARCH 20

Nepal police have arrested two individuals for fleecing people by selling green coffee with the false assurance that it would significantly reduce weight.

The Central Investigation Bureau of Nepal Police, issuing a press, release said they had arrested Igor Kuts, 30, of Russia with password number 752665857, along with his Nepali accomplice Aashish Acharya, 42, of Pokhara. Both of them were arrested yesterday from Khusibu of Kathmandu metropolis.

The duo was involved in selling 'green coffee' saying that it would reduce weight. They were promoting their product on various social media platforms and were involved in distributing pamphlets stating that taking of their products would require no physical exercise or dieting to reduce weight. They had also even falsely claimed that the coffee would not have any side effects and one could reduce up to 13 kg weight in a week.

Police said Kuts and Acharya were arrested after some people, who had used their products, complained. They had developed severe side effects after taking the green coffee. Police have also confiscated medical supplements called cardioton, dozex and crytalix, which are banned in Nepal.

SP Ganga Panta of CIB said they were arrested on the charge of fleecing people through false advertising. Panta said that the arrested used to sell the green coffee at Rs 20,000 to 40,000 per kg after buying it from local farmers at less than Rs 1,000 per kilogram.

Police also suspect that the arrested might have used some supplements or drugs in the green coffee powder that caused side effects in people. They had used the company name Team One Suppliers to sell the product. Acharya is the proprietor of that company.

The CIB team raided the storehouse and seized 644 kilograms of green coffee beans and nearly 3,000 packets of powdered green coffee ready for sale, along with around four lakh rupees. Police have also confiscated computer hard drives, graphic cards and other electronic gadgets used for bit coin minting, which is illegal in the country.

'We suspect that the arrested might have done bit-coin minting from Nepal,' SP Panta said. She also informed that the Russian national had already transferred Rs 220,000 back to his country.' Meanwhile, the arrested have been sent to judicial custody by Kathmandu District Court for fraud.

A version of this article appears in the print on March 21, 2021, of The Himalayan Times.