The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) in the last one year has arrested three foreigners for paedophilia and rescued at least seven children.

All the arrests were made in the Thamel area, the tourist hub in the Capital.

Investigating officials say even though the law enforcement agency has rescue children from the clutches of the paedophiles they are concerned about the traumatic effect the incident leaves on the minors.

All the arrestees were found with children in their rooms. During counselling, the victims, according to officials, said they were forced into sexual activities.

In September last year, five Nepali children were rescued and an American national, Kenneth Joseph Coombs, 48, was arrested in Thamel. A Nepali national Buddha Patuwar, 21, was also arrested on charge of “supplying” children aged between 12 and 16 years to Coombs.

Similarly, on June 29, 2017, a German National, Albert Fred Klinicke, was arrested while a 14-year old child was rescued from Jyatha. The CIB said that Klinicke had been sexually abusing the child.

Also, Markus Kendler of Austria was arrested by the CIB last week from Thahiti. A child was rescued from the room of Kendler.  

According to SP Mira Chaudhary, spokesperson for the CIB, many foreigners in the guise of working professionals, have been exploiting children, particularly from outside the Valley.

“Parents in rural parts of the country are often made to believe by the perpetrators that children would be safe with them,” said SP Chaudhary.

She said many Nepalis have been found involved in “arranging” the children for these criminals.

In the case of Coombs, Patuwar would first bring children to his house in Swoyambhu. He would then take their pictures and send them to his “foreign clients” through WhatsApp and Viber. The child then used to be “delivered to the hotel” as per Coombs’ choice, according to investigating officials.

Police intensified their investigation after a most-sought after Ernest Fenwick MacIntosh, a Canadian, was arrested in 2014 from Lalitpur.

On March 1, 2015, the Lalitpur District Court convicted MacIntosh on charge of paedophilia and slapped him with a seven-year jail term.

“Parents hesitate to report such cases. The children are easily influenced by toys and other playing goods while the paedophiles abuse them,” said SP Chaudhary.