Former Speaker of the House, Krishna Bahadur Mahara, has denied any involvement in the gold smuggling case in his statement submitted to the District Court of Kathmandu. Arrested in connection with the case, Mahara claimed he had no role in the illegal import of gold hidden inside electronic cigarettes (vapes).
In his statement, Mahara explained that he came to know Chinese national Daojin Wang when the latter visited his home with fruits to congratulate him during his tenure as Minister for Communication and Information Technology. Mahara emphasized that he had no investment in the smuggling operation and no partnership in Wang’s business, which the Chinese citizen had described as a fruit trading venture.
He further stated that he never instructed Chief Customs Administrator Arun Pokharel to assist his son at the airport customs, rejecting accusations that he used his influence to facilitate the release of the smuggled gold.
The prosecution has demanded over NPR 85.5 million (approx. $640,000 USD) in damages and a prison sentence of more than three years for Mahara, alleging that he exerted pressure to release the smuggled gold hidden inside vapes through airport customs.
About the Author
