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‘Japanese’ held for cheating Nepal earthquake survivors

Japanese national Hiroshi Morikawa and Nepali Bajra Gurung, nabbed on charge of fraud, from Kathmandu, on Friday, June 17, 2016. Photo: MPCD

Kathmandu, June 17, 2016: Police on Friday have arrested two men, including one who claimed himself to be from Japan, on the charge of fraud, from New Road of Kathmandu.

The foreign suspect identified himself as 55-year-old Hiroshi Morikawa from Kyoto of Japan. Along with him, 50-year-old Bajra Gurung, a permanent resident of Lazimpat in the Capital, was also arrested.

The duo, according to police, were involved in swindling quake survivors from various districts, assuring them of lucrative employment opportunities in Japan.

As many as 12 persons including Janak Raj Dhakal of Gorkha had filed a complaint against the duo at the Metropolitan Police Crime Division claiming they were swindled of Rs 1.13 million with the false assurances.

Morikawa had falsely been claiming to be the Chief Executive Officer at the D-Emmanuel Consultancy while Gurung had claimed to be the Director at the company, which they claimed would send Nepal earthquake survivors to Japan for employment.

Police further suspected that the duo might have cheated other quake survivors from Singati village of Dolakha into paying thousands of rupees as they had reportedly conducted a training programme to construct quake-resistant houses.

In Dolakha also, they had assured many of sending to Japan, according to police.

The “Japanese” national, however, could not produce any paper revealing his identity, police said.

After receiving complaints from the victims including Dhakal, a police team deployed from the MPCD arrested the duo from New Road in the Capital today.

Police said the duo have been sent to the Kathmandu Metropolitan Police Range for further investigation.