American held from Thamel for paedophilia; 5 kids rescued
KESHAV P. KOIRALA
KATHMANDU: Nepal Police's Central Investigation Bureau said it has arrested a US citizen, identified as Kenneth Joseph Coombs, on charge of paedophilia and rescued five children from his clutches.
The CIB said the 48-year-old man (passport number 517817112) from Illinois of the US was a serial paedophile and had been visiting Nepal regularly.
He introduced himself as apps designer, according to SP Dibesh Lohani of the CIB.
A profile on PsychicWorld.com, introduces Coombs as a professional Tarot reader "with over 30 years of experience". "I am the author of 2 books about Tarot and 2 mobile apps," Coombs has written.
His Facebook profile shows that Coombs is from Collinsville in Illinois, and he studied Chemistry at Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville.
This time Coombs arrived in Kathmandu on August 23 and had been staying at the Thamel-based Hotel Yambu.
He had allegedly taken help of 21-year-old youth -- identified as Buddha Putawar aka Lucche, a resident of Swayambhu of Kathmandu -- to lure children into temptation of money and bring them to the Thamel-based hotel, where the suspected paedophile would prey on them.
