By a Staff Reporter
Kathmandu (HamroKhelkud) – The Kathmandu District Court has handed an eight-year prison sentence to Sandeep Lamichhane, Nepal National Team cricketer, in a rape case.
Just two weeks ago, the court found Sandeep guilty of rape, and today, he received an eight-year prison term. Additionally, he was fined three lakh rupees and ordered to pay two lakhs as compensation to the victim. The charges against Sandeep involved the rape of a minor who he had taken to a hotel in Kathmandu on Bhadra 5 last year.
The legal saga began when Sandeep was accused of raping a girl in a hotel in Kathmandu on Bhadra 5 of the previous year. The girl filed a complaint on Bhadra 21, alleging repeated incidents of rape. Patan High Court initially overruled the Kathmandu District Court’s decision and granted Sandeep bail of 20 lakhs on the 28th of Poush. He was removed from the position of the national team captain by CAN, while the legal proceedings also created challenges for his international travel.
Sandeep had been a part of the national team since last Falgun. The district court’s guilty verdict means he also missed the Pro Club Championship final in Birganj on Saturday.
The sentencing is scheduled for the 25th of Poush, with Sandeep potentially facing a prison term of 6 to 10 years. In cases with a sentence of less than 10 years, there is a provision for the defendant to appeal to the High Court without immediate incarceration.
While Sandeep awaits the court’s decision, he will miss big events lined up for Nepal, including the ICC World League-2 triangular series and the T20 World Cup scheduled in the USA and West Indies in June.
Sandeep, at 23, is a prolific leg-spinner, amassing a total of 112 wickets in 51 ODIs and 98 wickets in 52 T20Is for Nepal.
