KATHMANDU: The Metropolitan Police Crime Division Hanumandhoka has netted a man, accused of withdrawing hefty sum of money from various branches of the International Money Exchange through fraudulently

obtained code number

and counterfeit citizenship certificates.

The arrest was made from Chabahil, Kathmandu, last weekend. The police acted on an intelligence tip-off. The imposter has been identified as Sunil Kumar Karna (33), hailing from Maleth VDC- 7 in Saptari district. SSP Rana Bahadur Chand, In-charge, MPCD, today said Sunil used to withdraw the cash transferred to persons as remittance via the IME from their next of kin in foreign countries. “His Modus Operandi was finding out the code number given to the rightful receivers by the senders, producing counterfeit citizenship certificates of the supposed receivers and drawing the cash. He has confessed to the crime,” he said.

The fraud was detected when the victims complained that the remittance had been found to be fraudulently withdrawn from IME branches. The police have recovered money clearance sheets, duplicate citizenship certificates and Rs 450,000 in cash.

Sunil has been referred to the Metropolitan Police Range, Hanumandhoka, for further inquiry and to ascertain his link with other criminals. He will be undergoing trial under the “Forgery” Chapter of the Civil Code.

Also on Saturday, the police arrested a group of persons, including one, who robbed the Bhojpur Dingla Jewellery Store in Old Baneshwor. Intelligence officials at the Metropolitan Police Crime Division intensified a search operation to track them down ever since they made away with gold ornaments from the shop on February 24.

Those held are Arjun Ale Magar and Mitra Thapa Magar, alias Santosh, both hailing from Sindhupalchwok and Amit Dahal from West Bengal of India. SSP Rana Bahadur Chand, in-charge, MPCD, said it took them time to map out the location the absconders were holding up due to the densely populated settlements of the Valley and the hi-tech Modus Operandi of the criminals. The police have also recovered gold and silver ornaments and Rs 57,220 in cash from them. Though Dwarika Shankar — the owner of the store had claimed that 50 tolas of gold ornaments were robbed, the police refused to give the details.