Police set to probe claims against Gurkha charity

By Andrew Alderson and Oliver Wadeson 900PM GMT thirteen March 2010

PB Gurung, who perceived a flattery endowment during the Borneo debate of the 1960s, came in poke of improved hold up and improved healing diagnosis for his ill mother Photo DAVID ROSE

At slightest dual complaints have been lodged with apart UK military forces involving the Gurkha Army"s Ex Servicemen"s Organisation (GAESO).

The gift was indicted in Parliament last week of charging bankrupt Nepalese former servicemen �500 each for nonessential resettlement recommendation prior to referring the Gurkhas to a British organisation of solicitors, underneath the Legal Aid scheme.

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The Ministry of Defence, along with the Ministry of Justice, is questioning the charity"s �500 fees and the referrals, especially to Howe & Co, a London organisation that has represented most former Gurkhas in their onslaught to be authorised to live in Britain.

Senior sources at Kent military indicated on Saturday that they are at "discussion stage" over a censure from Bhin Tumbahamphe, a former Gurkha, right away vital in the county.

The former serviceman has done vicious monetary allegations opposite GAESO.

In addition, Gopal Chintan, GAESO"s former authorised adviser, says he has done a grave censure to the Metropolitan Police over purported genocide threats to him from Padam Gurung, the boss of the charity, after a Gurkha convene in Britain last year.

The dual men have depressed out over the approach the gift was run. GAESO and Mr Gurung repudiate behaving improperly.

Howe & Co says it has not perceived any income possibly from GAESO or any Gurkha.

An review by The Sundayin Britain and Nepal has unclosed habitual groups and claims of drawn out malpractice in GAESO.

Kevan Jones, the counterclaim minister, systematic an exploration last week in to the fees and referrals.

Mr Jones insists there was no need to compensate these charges since the Ministry of Defence"s Gurkha Settlement Office in Nepal provides such assistance for free an suggest taken up by a little 3,500 former Gurkhas.

Mr Jones additionally done a forked conflict on Joanna Lumley, who became the open face of a high-profile quarrel for Gurkha veterans to be authorised to solve in Britain.

He urged the singer to verbalise out opposite the purported exploitation, adding pointedly "Her pestilent silence, frankly, irritates me." Ms Lumley"s supporters are mad over what they see as a personal and undue inlet of the attack.

In May last year, Ms Lumley stood clutching a important winding kukri blade and announced the fight cry "Ayo Gorkhali" the Gurkhas are entrance after a Commons vote" paved the approach for Gurkhas who served in the British Armed Forces to have the right to live in the UK.

The Sundayhas learnt that a comparison Gurkha deputy a former GAESO central whose temperament is well known to this journal had been due to residence the Commons" home affairs name cabinet last week but pulled out after threats of assault were done opposite his family in Nepal.

Tim Heaver, a British counsel with 9 years experience in traffic with Gurkha cases who is tied together to a Gurkha widow, was outraged, but not surprised, by the threats to the official, who quiescent since of the purported injustice of funds.

This journal has additionally detected that a difference had already grown inside of GAESO by Apr last year, a month prior to the triumphant debate feat scenes in London when Ms Lumley was acclaimed for her joining to the Gurkha Justice Campaign.

Eleven month ago the gift separate at the ubiquitous gathering assembly with Mr Gurung, the president, confronting the brunt of the critique over the approach the gift was run.

His greatest censor is Mr Chintan, GAESO"S authorised confidant for a decade but who separate from the gift to form the "real GAESO" after going open on his criticisms.

In an interview, he claimed Gurkhas had been overcharged and their income estimated at up to �2 million should be returned.

This journal has additionally detected that by the time Ms Lumley, whose father was an military officer portion with the 6th Gurkha Rifles, arrived in Nepal in Jul for a feat parade, the argument in between Mr Gurung and Mr Chintan was already arching out of control, with the latter going to the military claiming that the former had done genocide threats opposite him.

Mr Gurung is positively far richer right away than he was eighteen years ago when GAESO was formed. Then, according to one critic, he could not means a �4 long-range train ticket.

Now he is conjectural to have at slightest dual if not 3 homes in Nepal and a rich lifestyle.

Mr Chintan is vicious of Howe & Co, observant he warned the solicitors as prolonged ago as 2006 that GAESO was charging Gurkha veterans �500 each for resettlement advice.

The lifestyle of the GAESO boss is in sheer contrariety to that of his namesake Purna Bahadur Gurung (no relation), 65, who arrived in Britain from Kathmandu, the Nepalese capital, last Oct carrying paid �500 to GAESO prior to being put in hold with Howe & Co.

PB Gurung, who perceived a flattery endowment during the Borneo debate of the 1960s, came in poke of improved hold up and improved healing diagnosis for his ill wife, who has diabetes and bedsores.

However, the integrate are right away vital in one-room bedsit with common kitchen and lavatory in Hounslow, west London.

PB Gurung, who borrowed the income to compensate GAESO and to compensate for a visa and flights, right away intends to his homeland.

"I will have to sell my land in Nepal to pay off loans," he said. "I am going to lapse to Nepal since there is not sufficient to eat to UK. The UK is for people who are still earning a living."

The Sundaycan exhibit that following the debate last week Howe & Co right away plans to close the argumentative bureau in Nepal.

Kieran O"Rourke, a partner with the firm, pronounced "We are suspending all operations in Nepal until the supervision investigations are complete.

"I don"t wish the firm"s repute or those of the clients put at risk. And we are not opening again until it"s transparent the Gurkhas are not being exploited."

Howe & Co has perceived up to �1 million in authorised assist for assisting up to 1,300 Gurkhas.

However, it heartily repudiate any incorrectness and contend they have not perceived "a penny" from possibly GAESO or any Gurkhas.

They demand the MoD bureau can suggest usually singular assistance and most veterans do not certitude the office.

Mr O"Rourke, who visited Nepal with the actress, pronounced "This seems to be a box of Kevan Jones [the counterclaim minister] settling old scores since he was flustered when the Gurkhas campaigners won the conflict opposite the Government."

Mr Gurung, the GAESO president, denies all allegations of malpractice. However, he declined to criticism last week.

Opponents of Mr Chintan subject because he one after another to work as GAESO"s authorised confidant for so prolonged if he was so dumbfounded by the purported exploitation. Ms Lumley additionally declined to comment.