Sawt Falasteen - Nepal arrests six in tourist rescue fraud

Thousands of trekkers visit Nepal every year for its stunning views of the Himalayas and routes lined with picturesque villages -- and emergency helicopter rescues are a critical part of the tourism industry.

Police said they uncovered evidence of multiple insurance claims filed for a single rescue operation, or chartered flights falsely presented as emergency evacuations, and fabricated medical bills issued with the involvement of private hospitals.

The arrests follow a two and a half month investigation by the Central Investigation Bureau that revealed a trail of forged and manipulated documents.

Three companies had claimed insurance payouts of approximately $1.69 million, according to a police statement.

"This has been a long-standing issue and we have been investigating. Six have been arrested and our investigations will continue," Shiva Kumar Shrestha, the bureau's spokesman, told AFP.

A 2018 government probe identified 15 companies -- including helicopter firms, trekking agencies and hospitals -- linked to the lucrative racket. But no action was taken against any of the alleged perpetrators.

Scams continued -- despite Nepal introducing guidelines to control fake rescues following a warning from insurers.

Z.AbuSaud--SF-PST