KATHMANDU, MARCH 7

A section officer has been arrested for granting Nepali citizenship to two Chinese nationals, who are in police custody on charges of gold smuggling.

Ram Chandra Aryal, a sixth-level officer working at the Bagmati Province Assembly Secretariat, was arrested in Hetauda on Wednesday.

Aryal was transferred to the Bagmati Province Assembly Secretariat from the Transport Management Office in Thulo Bharyang, Kathmandu.

Sitaram Rijal, Chief of the District Police Office, Makawanpur, stated that Aryal was arrested at the request of the District Police Office, Kavre, and has been sent to Kavre. Aryal is charged with providing support to grant Nepali citizenship to the Chinese nationals while working as the Nayab Subba at the District Administration Office, Kavre.

According to police investigations, officials at the Kavre District Administration Office granted Nepali citizenship to the Chinese nationals based on descent. The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of the Nepal Police is also investigating the case.

The Kavre District Administration Office issued Nepali citizenships based on descent in the names of Belgian citizen Dawa Tshiring of Tibetan origin and Chinese national Dawa Jin Wang in January 2018. Aryal entered those names into the computer system, as revealed by the investigation.

Dawa acquired Nepali citizenship under the name of Nima Tamang, while Wang obtained it using the pseudonym Pasang Tamang.

Investigations into Jhapendra Raj Kharel, another government official supporting the issuance of citizenships, are ongoing, according to the police.