Kathmandu. Police have arrested 5 persons, including a bank employee, on the charge of embezzling money from the Basic Health Service Hospital, Chandauta under Shivaraj Municipality of Kapilvastu.

They were arrested on the charge of embezzling government funds of Rs 38,19,770 through organized fraud and criminal breach of trust.

According to the District Police Office, Kapilvastu, the amount collected from the hospital’s service charge and sale of medicines from the pharmacy should have been deposited at the Chandauta branch of Nepal Bank Limited.

The arrestees have been identified as Chudamani Bhattarai, chief of the health department of Shivaraj Municipality, and medical superintendent of the hospital. The deceased have been identified as Mr. Amit Pandey, Pharmacy Assistant at the hospital, Mr. Kamal Prasad Bhandari at the Chanauta branch of Nepal Bank Limited and Mr. Bikram KC, Office Assistant of Nepal Bank Limited.

The arrestees have been remanded in custody for 7 days by the Kapilvastu District Court on the charge of fraud and criminal breach of trust, said Information Officer Deputy Superintendent of Police Ripendra Kumar Singh.