The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) has suspended cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane a day after he was sentenced to jail for rape.
The Kathmandu District Court on Wednesday sentenced Lamichhane to eight years in jail along with Rs 500,000 as fine and compensation after finding him guilty of rape, CAN Chairman Chatur Bahadur Chand said.
Chand said that the former national cricket team captain has been suspended from all domestic and international tournaments after he was proven guilty of rape.
On Dec 29 last year, a single bench of judge Sishiraj Dhakal had issued a verdict in consonance with Section 219 (3) (e) of Civil Code 2074, finding Lamichhane guilty of raping ‘Gaushala 26’.
The verdict has established that the accused “raped the victim taking advantage of her poor economic condition” and convicted him as per clause 219—1, 2 and 3 (d)—of the Criminal Code Procedure.
The case started unraveling after Lamichhane’s arrest from Tribhuvan International Airport on Oct 6 last year, on the basis of a complaint accusing him of raping a minor on Sept 6 the same year.
Citing statements from both the parties, the CCTV footage and an eyewitness account, the verdict states that ‘Gaushala 26’ and Lamichhane stayed at a hotel room in Kathmandu after their return from a journey to Nagarkot, adding that Lamichhane had raped her in the room.
However, a controversial legal provision vis-a-vis jail terms of 6-10 years means Lamichhane can still appeal against this judgment at a higher court by staying out of prison.
