Metropolitan Police Range, Kathmandu on Friday arrested a man in Nepalgunj for allegedly defrauding 60 people promising them jobs abroad.

Baburam Shrestha, 39, who was brought to Kathmandu after his arrest,

Defrauded 60 people of over 25 million, police said.

The matter came to light when seven of the victims approached police last week. “His plan was to make over 40 million. However, he could not succeed as we arrested him,” said Deputy Superintendent Hobindra Bogati, spokesperson for the Kathmandu Metropolitan Police Range.

Shrestha ran his “business” from his massage centre at CTC mall, Sundhara, according to Senior Superintendent Uttam Raj Subedi, the chief of Kathmandu Metropolitan Police Range.

“Shrestha used to target unemployed youngsters who knew very little about procedures to work abroad,” said Bogati. “The accused collected Rs600,000 each from 26 victims promising them jobs in Malta and collected Rs400,000 from 34 for employment in Kuwait,” said Bogati.

The complainants told police that he, along with others, borrowed money to pay Shrestha to get jobs abroad. “One of the complainant told us that the accused promised him a job in Kuwait and Malta,” said Bogati.

Shrestha then allegedly ran away with the money; he was caught in Nepalganj. “The accused is now in custody and further investigation into the case is underway,” said Subedi.

Fraud cases, including those related to foreign employment, have become common in the country, with police receiving hundreds of complaints every year.

According to Nepal Police, 368 cases of fraud were filed across the country in FY 2016/17. The number rose to 542 in 2017/18, and 627 2018/19.