NTA fines Global Internet Rs 374 m

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

KATHMANDU: Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) today slapped Rs 374.4 million fine on Global Internet Service Pvt Ltd for its illegal involvement in Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) scam.

The regulator also revoked its licence, NTA spokesperson Kailash Prasad Neupane informed.

“Of the total fine, Rs 187.2 is the actual loss caused by the internet service provider through illicit VoIP,” he said, adding that the remaining Rs 187.2 is the fine equal to the actual fraud.

The authority also decided to seize all Global Internet equipment as part of the action, Neupane said.

According to him, a 35-day ultimatum will be give to the Global Internet to furnish justification against the decision.

“The authority will ask the concerned government agencies to collect the fine after 35 days,” he said.

Telecom service providers have also claimed their loss amount from illegal VoIP by Global Internet, he said. However, the authority did not take any decision due to lack of evidence.

Earlier, the Department of Revenue Investigation (DRI) in February had sought a penalty of Rs 2.59 billion against responsible officials and owner of Global Internet.

The penalty amount includes Rs 865 million loss caused to the government and double amount of fine (Rs 1.73 billion) under the Revenue Leakage Investigation and Penalty Act, according to DRI.

Bhola Kishore Dangol, believed to be the kingpin of illegal Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) operation, was arrested in India in April.

He was arrested by Darjeeling Police in Mirik, West Bengal for illegally installing transmitters and wireless equipment.