Police have arrested one more suspect in connection with the Bhutanese refugee scam.

Personnel from the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office arrested 59-year-old Keshav Tuladhar from Nayabazaar on Wednesday, said Superintendent of Police Sitaram Rijal, spokesperson of the District Police Range Kathmandu.

Tuladhar has been taken to the Kathmandu District Court to extend his judicial custody, Rijal added.

On May 24, the District Attorney Office, Kathmandu registered a criminal case against 30 people including former deputy prime minister Top Bahadur Rayamajhi and former home minister Bal Krishna Khand.

Some of the 30 people chargesheeted were at large. “He [Tuladhar] is one of them,” Rijal told the Post.

According to the attorney office, the accused were prosecuted on one of the four types of crimes—treason, organised crime, fraud and forgery—based on their involvement.

After a hearing on whether to remand those arrested in the case, out of the 18 people arrested, the Kathmandu District Court on June 16 sent 16 people, including Rayamajhi and Khand, to jail.

The scam came to light after a group of racketeers unsuccessfully tried to send Nepalis to the US in the guise of Bhutanese refugees after collecting money in the range of Rs150,000 to Rs4.8 million each from the individuals.

With nearly a dozen defendants still at large, the police have been arguing that the investigation could be broadened to include others once evidence is found, saying that the statements of those absconding were yet to be taken.