Nepal court hands Sandeep Lamichhane 8 year jail term for rape
In a verdict that reverberated through the Nepalese sporting and legal communities, the Kathmandu District Court on Wednesday sentenced national cricket team leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane to eight years in prison on account of rape. The case, which had sent shockwaves across the nation when it broke in September 2022, was closely followed by the public throughout the trial. Lamichhane, once considered a rising star in Nepalese cricket, had initially denied the charges.
It was just a month that Lamichhane was found guilty of raping an 18-year-old woman and today, he was handed the sentence. In addition to the prison sentence, the 23-year-old has also been fined Rs. 3,00,000.
It was in September 2023 that Lamichhane was accused of rape. The woman in question alleged that the cricketer raped her in a hotel room in August of the same year. CCTV footage confirmed the woman’s claim of their presence together, adding weight to the allegations. Despite the gravity of the charges, Lamichhane was granted bail in February 2022 by Judge Dhruvaraj Nanda and Ramesh Dhakal, sparking further debate. This decision allowed him to play for the national team, a move met with resistance from the international community.
Scotland’s cricket team opted for a silent protest, refusing to shake hands with Lamichhane during a match. Namibia displayed their disagreement through a different gesture, avoiding handshakes with the entire Nepalese team and opting for fist bumps instead. These actions highlighted the international disapproval of Lamichhane’s actions.
Drastic downfall
Lamichhane’s trajectory, from a young prodigy at the peak of cricket to facing such serious allegations, paints a stark picture of a descent from grace. At 23, he has already achieved remarkable feats, being the first Nepalese cricketer to grace the Indian Premier League in 2018. Despite being born in an associate nation, his exceptional talent earned him recognition and numerous opportunities on the global stage. But in the face of these accusations, his future in the sport remains shrouded in uncertainty.
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