KATHMANDU: The government has barred Mike Bullsover, the managing director and CEO of Silver Heritage Company, from leaving Nepal for non-payment of millions in casino operating royalties.
Mike, a British national, arrived at the Tribhuvan International Airport on Saturday to leave Nepal but was turned away by the Immigration Department.
Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Prem Bahadur Ale had instructed the Department not to allow him to leave Nepal.
Narayan Bhattarai, Director of the Department, said that Mike was returned from the airport after receiving a letter from the Ministry of Tourism.
“We have stopped him from leaving Nepal after receiving a letter from the tourism ministry,” he said.
Mike’s company has to pay Rs 130 million to the government but has not done so yet.
The two casinos operating at the Shangrila Hotel in Lazimpat, Kathmandu and Tiger Palace in Bhairahawa with the investment of OCP Asia have not paid the revenue.
SHL Management Service in Shangrila and SHL Management Service in Hotel Tiger One have been operating casinos.
The Department of Tourism had instructed 10 casino companies to pay the fees by mid-December.
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