Kathmandu, November 3

The government today filed a case against 14 individuals for smuggling 88 kilograms of gold through Kerung entry point of China.

The District Attorney Office, Kathmandu, filed the case at the Kathmandu District Court under Prevention of Organised Crime Act, 2013. The source said the accused if convicted could face jail term up to five years under the POC Act, 2011.

The government sought to recoup approximately Rs 430 million from the accused.

A source at the District Attorney Office said the government had filed cases against 14 people including  Manoj Adhikari, Dilip Khadka, Shubha Ratna Shakya, Ganesh Dutta Badu, Satya Narayan Agrawal, Nand Kumar Margale, Ullas Dinkar Salukhe, Man Bahadur Tamang, Lhakpa Gyaljen and Hise Sangbo Lama,  Chinese national  Wan Wei Ming and his wife Yang Wei Wing

Deputy Superintendent of Police Bel Bahadur Pandey told The Himalayan Times that the Chinese couple Wan and Yang had been named as the main accused in the case. Seven of the other accused are currently in the police custody.

A source at the District Attorney Office, Kathmandu, said there were some accused whose addresses and names of their parents had not been ascertained yet and the moment those details would be ascertained the government would file charges against them as well.

“There could be more people involved in this smuggling racket and as our investigation reveal details of the other accused, we will file cases against them as well,” the source added.

Wan allegedly operated the smuggling racket under the cover of tourism entrepreneur and restaurateur in Thamel. The couple has been absconding.

The police had arrested car driver Manoj Adhikari on September 4 with a vehicle carrying gold worth around Rs 430 million.