Nepal cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane has been handed an eight-year prison sentence by a Nepal court in connection with the rape of a 17-year-old girl. The verdict comes after Lamichhane was convicted last month, concluding a series of delays that allowed him to continue playing cricket during the legal proceedings. The court official Ramu Sharma confirmed that the bench of Shishir Raj Dhakal delivered the verdict, which includes eight years of imprisonment along with compensation and penalties.
Lamichhane was initially released in January 2023, as the court alleged that he had raped a minor girl in a hotel room in Kathmandu in August 2022. Last February, the court had directed a fast-tracking process to conclude the case, but the hearings faced delays due to Lamichhane’s participation in the World Cup qualifiers in Zimbabwe.
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During this time, he was released on bail and permitted to travel abroad since he had not been convicted at that point. The recent verdict indicates the conclusion of a legal process that had been ongoing for some time.
Nepal spinner Sandeep Lamichhane has been sentenced to eight years in jail after being found guilty of rape
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The Kathmandu District Government Attorney’s Office (DGAO) had sought a 12-year prison term for Lamichhane, in accordance with sub-section 3 (d) of Section 219 of the National Penal (Code) Act, 2017. This sub-section outlines the imprisonment period for a person convicted of raping a woman aged 16 or above but below 18, with a possible sentence of 10-12 years.
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An arrest warrant had been issued for Lamichhane, leading to his suspension from the Nepal cricket team during the Asia Cup. Lamichhane consistently denied the rape allegations, and his lawyer, Sabita Bhandari Baral, expressed frustration after last month’s judgment, stating, “We did not expect this judgement.”
The 21-year-old Lamichhane represented Nepal in 51 ODIs and 52 T20Is at the international level. He also featured in nine matches for the Delhi franchise in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
