KATHMANDU: The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of the police has recommended to the district attorney’s office that three individuals, including Rahul Mahara, the son of former Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara, face prosecution on charges of illegal gold smuggling involving electronic cigarettes (vape).

The CIB has submitted a report expressing its opinion to prosecute Rahul Mahara, a Belgian citizen of Tibetan origin named Dawa Chhiring, and driver Lokendra Paudel, along with Chinese citizen Dawajin Wang, all of whom are implicated in the gold smuggling case. Dawa Chhiring, who is also connected to a 61 kg gold case, is presently incarcerated.

One Nepalese individual has been placed on the fugitive list for this crime, while six Chinese nationals, including Dawajin, who brought the gold, are listed as wanted based on the investigation conducted during their arrest in Nepal.

The police have recommended proceeding with the case against the defendants in the vape case, along with a fine of NPR 85.55 million and 28,374 rupees.

On December 25, 2022, 9 kg 11.524 grams of gold were discovered concealed in a vape belonging to Dawajin and another Chinese citizen from Dubai. The airport customs office seized the item, suspecting it to be suspicious.

Subsequently, former Speaker Mahara and his son Rahul attempted to have the vape released. Mahara made 256 calls in an attempt to dispose of the gold. The same gold was later confiscated by customs and investigated by the CIB. Although a case was filed on July 12, there had been no investigation into the group responsible for bringing the gold. In this case, the police have taken the statement of former Speaker Mahara.