KATHMANDU: The Kathmandu District Court is set to begin the bail hearing today in the gold smuggling case involving CPN (Maoist Centre) Vice-Chair and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Krishna Bahadur Mahara.
The Office of the District Attorney on Monday filed a charge sheet at the court, accusing Mahara of involvement in the smuggling of gold concealed inside electronic cigarettes (vapes). The case seeks a three-year prison sentence and recovery of Rs 85.5 million in damages.
Mahara was arrested by the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police on Sunday from Khumaltar, Lalitpur.
According to investigators, Mahara is alleged to have played a role in facilitating the smuggling operation linked to Chinese national Li Hao Song, who was arrested on December 25, 2022, for attempting to bring gold into Nepal hidden inside vapes.
The court proceedings beginning today will determine whether Mahara will be remanded to judicial custody or released on bail as the trial moves forward.
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