Kathmandu, July 20

Police have arrested three persons for their alleged involvement in swindling unwary people of cash by selling fake gold.

The suspects nabbed by Metropolitan Police Range, Kathmandu, from different places of Kathmandu valley yesterday are Raj Lama Tamang, 23, of Sindhupalchowk, Mlasingh Lama, 26, of Nuwakot and Tasi Lakpa Sherpa, 28, of Solukhumbu. According to MPCD, a gold plated metal bar weighing one kilogram, a finger ring and a chain made of genuine gold were confiscated from them.

Senior Superintendent of Police Bishwaraj Pokharel, MPR in-charge, said the trio used to cheat unsuspecting people by making Koteshwor, Chabahil and Kapan areas their base. “The gang had been defrauding easy targets, promising them gold at a cheaper price,” SSP Pokharel said. They were found selling fake gold for two to three million rupees per kilogram.

They would show the prospective buyers a small piece of genuine gold as a sample before the agreement.

Officials said many people were defrauded by them. Police have appealed to all to purchase gold only from the authorised jewellers with an invoice.

According to Metropolitan Police Range, Lama had been arrested and punished on fraud charge twice before. Similarly, Sherpa was released from jail after doing 10 years for murdering his aunt in 2001.