Nepal’s ex-prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba may go down in history if an Interpol Red Corner Notice is issued against him. The Kathmandu Post has reported that the Home Ministry is working on the formalities that will be processed through the police.
Deuba has been abroad for some time along with his wife and former foreign minister Arzu Rani Deuba. Their precise location is not clear, some reports claiming they are in Singapore, others indicating Hong Kong.
He went ostensibly for medical treatment but again the exact nature of his illness has not been clarified. The Kathmandu Post said Deuba’s son and nephew are also overseas with the former believed to be in the US. His wife’s brother is also abroad.
The charges against them are money laundering related to public office. Deuba has been prime minister no less than five times and also been an MP for even longer. The Kathmandu District Court has already issued arrest warrants.
Important to note that Interpol notices are not binding and according to the Kathmandu Post report, Nepal does not have an extradition treaty with Hong Kong. Even if the authorities there detain him, his deportation can be challenged through the local courts.
There’s also the fact that Deuba and his wife are high profile political figures. Their case might be seen through a political lens, and local authorities may be cautious when it comes to acting on Interpol notices.
How could China move on this? Hong Kong is Chinese territory and increasingly China’s judicial and other systems may have already taken over the British systems in operation so far.
While China’s sympathies may lie with the communist parties in Nepal, it would not want to alienate the Nepali Congress, which remains a powerful political force in that country. It’s also conceivable it could return to power some time in the future, in which case how it handles the Deuba case would be critical.
