Jul 01, Kathmandu - Kathmandu Police have arrested five individuals involved in cheating victims with false promises of sending them abroad for employment. The suspects, residents of various parts of Kathmandu and neighboring districts, allegedly collected significant sums of money from victims under false pretenses.

The accused include 42-year-old Wangdi Lama of Sindhupalchok, residing in Gokarneshwar Municipality-4; 38-year-old Lalit Bahadur Tamang of Ramechhap, living in Madhyapur Thimi Municipality-4; 34-year-old Santosh Lama from Kathmandu's Changunarayan Municipality-8; 41-year-old Ramdas Maharjan of Dhading, residing in Kathmandu's Maharajgunj-16; and 29-year-old Sarib Giri of Kathmandu-15.

According to police reports, Wangdi Lama claimed to send a victim to Azerbaijan and took NPR 50,000. Lalit Bahadur promised to send someone to Kosovo, collecting NPR 2.5 lakh. Santosh Lama assured to send a victim to Spain and received NPR 15 lakh. Ramdas Maharjan promised to send victims to the UAE, collecting a total of NPR 45 lakh from seven victims. Sarib Giri claimed he could send someone to Canada and took NPR 20 lakh from a victim. All suspects have become untraceable since collecting the money.

The Kathmandu Metropolitan Police's Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) apprehended the suspects based on complaints and investigations. The arrests took place at various locations in Kathmandu: Wangdi Lama was detained from Kathmandu-4 on Sunday, Lalit Bahadur from Kathmandu-12 on Saturday, Santosh Lama from Kathmandu-15 on Saturday, Ramdas Maharjan from Kathmandu-14 on Friday, and Sarib Giri from Kathmandu-15 on Monday.

The police have handed over the suspects to the Department of Foreign Employment in Tahaichal, Kathmandu, for further investigation and legal proceedings.