RIYADH: Hamid Ansari, Nepal's ambassador to Saudi Arabia, has been recalled by Katmandu for his alleged complicity in financial scams, mainly for stealing blood money of poor Nepalese workers.
An investigation against Ansari has been started by Nepal's main anti-corruption body, which claims Ansari deposited $27,500 worth of insurance compensation to three Nepali workers in the Kingdom into his personal account.
Ansari could not be reached immediately for comments as his cell phone was switched off.
"I am also hearing the reports of his recall, but I have not received any official communication from Katmandu so far," said Paras Ghimire, charge d'affaires at the Nepalese Embassy.
Ansari also faces allegations of having misappropriated millions of riyals paid as compensations to Nepali workers.
Ghimire admitted that relatives of some Nepali nationals who died in the Kingdom had complained about officials stealing their money.
The formal announcement of Ansari's recall was made by Nepal's Justice Minister Prem Bahadur Singh in Katmandu on Wednesday. Singh said the envoy failed to explain why he transferred money owed to the family of a man killed in a road accident into his personal bank account.
"It was inappropriate for Ansari to keep the money in his account, and his actions have tarnished the image of our country," Singh said.
Asked about the irregularities, Umesh Kumar Mudbari, accounts officer at the Nepalese Embassy, admitted that he had found some discrepancies, "but these irregularities ... or the transfer of workers' blood money were all done before my posting in Riyadh."
An insurance company has dispatched to Katmandu the copies of bank checks that were received by Ansari on behalf of the victims' kin. Allegations have also been made that Ansari had transferred compensation money meant for other Nepali citizens to his personal bank account. He is also being accused and investigated of widely "misusing his authority" during his stay as ambassador in Riyadh.
Another accusation made against Ansari is the poor management of Nepali pilgrims during the last Haj season. A number of pilgrims accused the envoy of neglecting their problems.
In 2010, 323 Nepali workers died in the Kingdom, the third most-preferred destination for Nepali migrants. Saudi Arabia currently hosts over 300,000 Nepali workers.
© Arab News 2011
