Sandeep Lamichhane sentenced to 8 years imprisonment
The bench of Kathmandu District Court Judge Shishirraj Dhakal has sentenced him.
KATHMANDU: Cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane, who was found guilty of rape, has been sentenced to 8 years in prison.
The bench of Kathmandu District Court Judge Shishirraj Dhakal on Wednesday has ordered him the sentence.
Under Section 219 (2) of the National Penal Code Act, 2017, engaging in sexual intercourse with a woman without her consent or with a girl child below eighteen years, even with her consent, constitutes rape. Section 219 (3) outlines the corresponding imprisonment terms based on the circumstances and age of the victim.
The court also ruled that the victim girl Gaushala 26 had reached 18 years of age. However, even though the victim was an adult, the court found Lamichhane guilty, stating that rape has been proved.
His lawyer, Sarojkrishna Ghimire, stated that Lamichhane will appeal to the High Court for more legal remedies, claiming that the district court’s judgment in Kathmandu is satisfactory.
As per the verdict, Lamichhane has been fined Rs. 300,000 and he has to provide a sum of Rs. 200,000 as compensation for the victim.
Lamichhane, a prominent figure in the cricketing world, now faces an eight-year prison term, marking a significant turn in his personal and professional life.
What was the case against Sandeep?
On Sept 6, a teenage girl filed a complaint against former national cricket team captain Sandeep Lamichhane at the Gaushala police circle.
Sandeep, who was in the West Indies for the Caribbean Premier League, got suspended by the Cricket Association Nepal following the complaint. After he failed to return from the West Indies, Interpol issued a diffusion notice on Sept 26.
Upon his return to Nepal on October 6, Sandeep was arrested at the airport based on the Interpol notice. The Kathmandu District Court ordered his imprisonment during the preliminary hearing on Nov 4.
Sandeep appealed to the higher court, and on Jan 2, the High Court conditionally released him on a bail of 2 million.
Conditions for his release included travel restrictions, mandatory reporting to the police when leaving the Kathmandu Valley, and avoiding contact with the victim.
The Attorney General’s office and Sandeep Lamichhane appealed to the Supreme Court against the High Court’s decision. On Feb 24, Sandeep filed a writ petition with the Supreme Court seeking permission to travel abroad for cricket, while the Attorney General’s office argued for his custody and trial.
In the ongoing hearings, on Feb 27, the Supreme Court, with judges Sapana Malla Pradhan and Kumar Chudal, overturned the Patan High Court’s decision and issued a new order, permitting Sandeep to travel abroad due to his status as a national player.
