Everest is the highest peak in the world, with an altitude of almost 8,849 meters. Photo source: Karl_kanal | Dreamstime.com
Ukrainian climber Andrew Ushakov, who traveled a sea trip to the Everest peak in a four-day record number, was released on bail after being arrested for having undeclared currency, an Nepalese official said on Tuesday for Reuters.
“He has to face the accusations in court,” said the general director of the Nepalese department of fiscal investigations, Prasad Ghimire. He said that if Ushakov chooses not to defend his case in court “loses the money of bail”.
Ghimire had previously told about the bail that it was fixed at $ 60,000, three times the amount that Ushakov was supposed to have on Sunday, when he was taken in the custody of the authorities.
“Andrew is now at freedom,” his team for public relations confirmed on Tuesday, claiming that the climber had been detained “following a misunderstanding.” “He is grateful for the support received and is currently working to clarify all the problems with the competent authorities,” added his representatives.
Ushakov, a structural engineer living in the United States, flew from New York to Nepal on May 15, and then climbed the Everest peak without the common period of acclimatization.
He claims he did not use Xenon, the inhaled gas by four former British special forces who climbed the highest mountain last week, in five days, after leaving London. The climbers used Xenon to adapt more easily to the low oxygen environment that they would meet during the elevation of 8,849 meters.
Nak Pokhrel, an official of the police, claims that the undeclared currency was detected in the luggage control, when Ushakov was preparing to embark on a plane to leave Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal.
Anyone transporting currency worth over $ 5,000 is obliged to declare it to the authorities in Nepal.
Photo source: Karl_kanal | Dreamstime.com
