The Kathmandu District Court on Friday convicted former national cricket team captain Sandeep Lamichhane of rape.
A single bench of judge Shishir Raj Dhakal passed the order following the conclusion of the final hearings that started on Sunday.The court, however, concluded that the girl was not a minor at the time of the rape.
The next hearing will determine the jail term for the senior member of the national team.
Lamichhne is currently out on bail. On January 12, the Patan High Court ordered the release of the cricketer. Responding to a review petition filed by Lamichhane, a joint bench of judges Dhruva Raj Nanda and Ramesh Dahal ordered Lamichhane’s release on a bail bond of Rs2 million with conditions.
The Kathmandu District Court on November 4, 2022, had passed the order to send Lamichhane to the Sundhara-based central jail after a detention hearing. Lamichhane had moved the high court challenging the order.
The Kathmandu District Attorney’s Office filed a case against Lamichhane accusing him of raping a 17-year-old girl on August 21. He has been charged under Section 219 of the Criminal Code 2074.
The girl had filed a case against the 22-year-old cricketer on September 6 at the Metropolitan Police Circle, Gaushala.
Lamichhane was in Trinidad & Tobago to play in the Caribbean Premier League.
Nepal Police arrested him on October 6 from Tribhuvan International Airport.
Through the chargesheet, the district attorney had demanded compensation from Lamichhane for the victim’s alleged physical and mental torture. After the charge sheet was filed, Lamichhane’s bank account and property were frozen.
