Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Dhorpatan Mayor Dev Kumar Nepali, who has admitted to misappropriating cooperative deposits, has promised to return cooperative depositors’ money.
In a statement given to the Parliamentary Investigation Special Committee on the Misuse of Cooperative Savings despite reportedly being on the run after complaints of cooperative fraud were filed against him, Nepali, who was the chairperson of Image Credit and Savings Cooperative, has admitted in his statement that he still owes Rs 1.80 billion to the depositors. In his statement, Nepali promised to repay the depositors’ money even if it meant selling his personal property.
Nepali said he fled after depositors began demanding the return of their money which he had misappropriated. However, even while in hiding, he provided a statement to the parliamentary committee investigating cooperatives. In his statement, he claimed that he was forced to flee due to threats to his life from the depositors.
Nepali had contested the mayoral election from the CPN-UML.
He reportedly sent his statement via post to Surya Bahadur Thapa Chhetri – the coordinator of the committee. Thapa is also a UML lawmaker.
Nepali is among 29 individuals who have defrauded cooperative depositors and are currently on the run.
