Nepal’s top anti-graft body has filed corruption charges against 55 senior officials and a Chinese company. The agency alleges they embezzled millions of dollars during the construction of Pokhara International Airport. The high-profile project was built under Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative. A Nepalese consulting firm had determined the project could be completed for $145 million, but the price was increased during bilate. The airport was financed through a $215.96 million loan from China’s Export-Import Bank and inaugurated in January 2023.
Source: OCCRP, 2025-12-09; https://www.occrp.org/en/news/nepal-files-corruption-charges-against-55-officials-chinese-contractor-over-pokhara-airport