Kathmandu,

June19,

The 'Golden Stick' gifted by Prince Juma Al Maktoum of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to medical practitioner and UML central member Durga Prasai is being investigated.

Durga Prasai, a central member of the CPN-UML and a businessman, received a golden stick from Dubai’s Prince Juma Al Maktoum, who is in Nepal for a three-day visit.

Chief of the Tribhuvan International Airport Customs Office, Mahesh Kumar Bhattarai, said that the customs office was unaware that Prince Juma had brought a golden stick.

He said, “It was heard that Prince Juma reached Jhapa via Tribhuvan International Airport in the morning and gave a golden stick as a gift. However, the customs office has not been informed about the gold stick. ” He said that VVIPs are allowed to use special rooms while using the airport but they are not allowed to transport non-standard items.

As VVIP himself is a responsible person, the check will not be as strict as that of a normal passenger, said Bhattarai. The customs office at the airport is unaware of the means by which the stick reached Jhapa. The customs department has stated that it has started an internal investigation in this regard, as per news in today's Gorkhapatra daily.