Unity management lobbying with govt

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

KATHMANDU: Unity Life International (ULI) is influencing the government to close the fraud case against the company and dismiss the arrest warrants against its directors. The government banned ULI in May 2010 after grave irregularities were found in their businesses. Over 6,00,000 Nepalis, around 4,00,000 in Nepal and 2,50,000 spread over 22 countries, are at the receiving end of the fraud.

Nepalis’ major work destinations Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, Hong Kong and others were major playground of the illegal network.

ULI directors are regularly visiting CPN-Maoist leaders through them they have made access to the government, sources said.

ULI management is uniting and influencing political leaders through various channels, said a source close to them. “The government is also positive about closing the Unity case,” he said.

According to him, a group of CPN (UML) is also lobbying in favour of ULI in the party. ULI is using all possible means to influence the new government. “Unity is using millions rupees and dozens of channels to get the charges against them dropped,” the source said.

Officials at the Ministry of Commerce and Supply (MoCS) confirmed that ULI officials are hobnobbing with political leaders and top bureaucrats.

According to him, ULI has pinpointed Rameshwor Khanal, secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Jaya Mukunda Khanal, joint secretary in the Ministry of Home as responsible for exposing the company.

ULI directors are lobbying to transfer them from their post saying their presence can hamper reopening of the network,” he said.