Police HQ to establish separate financial crime probe bureau

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Jan. 8: Inspector General of Nepal Police, Basanta Bahadur Kunwar, has said that a separate bureau will be established in Nepal Police to investigate financial crimes and cases related to them.

The Headquarters is mulling over establishing a financial crime bureau as there has been a significant increase in cases of banking offences and financial crimes in the country.

IGP Aryal made this remark while speaking at a province-level crime investigation review conference held in Pokhara of the Gandaki Province on Sunday. 

According to a press statement issued by the Police Headquarters on Sunday, IGP Kunwar informed that homework has been carried out for the establishment of a specialised bureau to investigate crimes related to financial crimes.

In Gandaki Province alone, cases relating to financial crimes have increased by 200 per cent in the current fiscal year as compared to last year, IGP Kunwar said. 

He said, "Not only on individuals or organisations, financial crimes have a serious impact also on the economy of the entire nation, so the police headquarters has been sensitive to the control of such incidents by establishing a separate bureau soon."

Cyber-crime, drug abuse, social crime and other challenges are emerging in society along with financial crimes, he said. 

Inspector General Kunwar said that an action plan for drug control is being prepared and implemented at the district level.

An initiative is being taken to establish a rehabilitation centre under the leadership and management of the police itself. "We are confident that all three levels of government will support the matter," IGP Kunwar said. 

He said that due to the increase in international traffic from Nepal for foreign employment, study, and travel, the risk of crime related to financial and drug abuse has increased.

Inspector General Kunwar said that since Pokhara is a major tourist destination in the country, tourism-friendly policing would be expanded in Pokhara.

Police chiefs of all 11 districts of the province participated in the conference organised by the Crime Investigation Branch of the Nepal Police and the Gandaki Province Police Office.