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Kathmandu district court (KDC) has slapped on cricketer Sandip Lamichhane an eight-year jail term along with Rs 500,000 as fine and compensation after finding him 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 

Former national cricket team captain Sandeep Lamichhane has been found guilty of raping a minor.

A single bench of Kathmandu District Court judge Shishir Raj Dhakal issued the verdict on Friday following the hearings that started on Sunday.

A 17-year-old girl registered a rape complaint against Lamichhane at the Metropolitan Police Circle, Gaushala.

The girl in her complaint said that the Nepal’s leg spinner had raped her in various places of Kathmandu and Bhaktapur.

The next hearing will determine the jail sentence for Lamichhane.

Rape-accused leg spinner Sandeep Lamichhane has left for China to play Asian Games on Tuesday.

Nepali national cricket team duo Lamichhane and Sagar Dhakal left for the northern neighbor at 12:30 pm today.

The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) said that Lamichhane left for China after the hearing of his case was postponed owing to the lack of judges.

Lamichhane even did not take part in the farewell program with the Nepali team due to the case.

As Lalit Rajbansi is injured and cannot take part in the Asian Games, the CAN has decided to send Dhakal in his place.

Nepal will play against Mongolia on Wednesday and Maldives on Sunday in the Asian Games.

Exactly one year ago, a news article regarding Nepal’s young achiever drew national and international attention. Nepal’s star cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane was accused of sexual coercion and a police case was filed against him. It was a shock to many as the then captain of the national cricket team who had represented in international cricket matches had been alleged for a serious crime. People who had already followed Paul Shah’s almost similar case speculated two possible scenarios. Some believed the celebrities were abusing their stardom to make women/adolescent girls their victims while others believed the stars were being framed. 

Paul Shah served a jail sentence for a year and was released only when the accuser changed her statement but in Lamichhane’s case, nothing seems to be moving. When the police case was filed against him, he did not immediately return to Nepal. Nepal Police had to seek Interpol’s support to track him. The Cricket Association of Nepal did suspend him after the allegations surfaced, but it didn’t take them long to welcome him after he was released on bail. He continues to take part in national and international matches, and we don’t know yet if he is guilty or innocent. In fact, a pattern is noticeable in his case. 

Before any cricket event approaches, the media come up with reports predicting the possibility of Lamichhane joining or not joining the match. First, the media report that Lamichhane may not be able to take part in so and so game. Second, the headlines change and mention CAN requesting authorities to allow him to play in the tournament. The Supreme Court also lifted a travel ban on him so he could play abroad. Finally, the news of Lamichhane leaving for that game appears in the media. Hearings on his case continue to be delayed. Sometimes, they cite lack of time or even judges, and at other times, there are alleged stories of fake documents. One year on, there’s no verdict. Are these attempts to delay the process so that there is less attention or is our judicial system indeed slow? 

If we all believe in the justice system, the truth has to be told in a fair and timely manner. His cricket skills should not be considered more important than the truth. If he committed a crime, he should be punished; if he is innocent, that needs to be shared soon. 

Just a month ago, Spain won the FIFA Women’s World Cup. As the world was watching Spanish footballers being congratulated at the trophy ceremony, a man was seen hugging and kissing the women footballers rather uncomfortably. This was being broadcast live on television around the world. Even I felt the hugs did not have to be that tight and the kisses could have been on cheeks. As the commentators mentioned who he was, I thought they shared a journey together and their closeness permitted that level of affection. 

But it didn’t take long for Jenni Hermoso to talk about the unwanted kiss in the media and termed it ‘not consensual’. Then, the drama unfolded when Luis Rubiales, president of the Spanish Football Federation, refused to acknowledge his act and refused to back down. There were widespread criticisms of what was named as the kissgate scandal. Even the manager of England’s women’s football team dedicated her Coach of the Year Award to the World Cup winning Spanish team in solidarity with the issues raised by the team. Rubiales resigned, eventually. 

Spain did the right thing by taking timely actions against the complaints. They have even tried to address issues of inequalities and misogyny existing in the football sector in a month’s time. And here in Nepal, we have already waited for a year to see the conclusion of an alleged rape case involving a high-level cricketer and a minor. Let’s hope the newly-elected team of the Cricket Association of Nepal takes the credibility and morality of its players seriously. Let us also hope that judges will be “available” for the hearings and justice delivered equally to everyone, be it a popular player or an ordinary citizen.  

Rape-accused cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane has left for Pakistan on Monday to play Asia Cup.

National Sports Council member-secretary Tanka Lal Ghising bid farewell to cricketer Lamichhane from the Tribhuvan International Airport.

The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) said that he will reach Pakistan via Doha of Qatar.

The Nepali team had left for Pakistan on August 22 to take part in the Asia Cup to be held in Pakistan and Sri Lanka from August 30 to September 17.

The final hearing of Lamichhane’s case was scheduled for Sunday but it was deferred until September 7 due to some reasons.

A 17-member team will be led by Rohit Paudel.

Along with Captain Paudel, Asif Sheikh, Kushal Bhurtel, Lalita Rajbansi, Bhim Sarki, Kushal Malla, Dipendra Singh Airee and Sandeep Lamichhane are in the team.

Similarly, the CAN has included Karan KC, Gulsan Jha, Sompal Kami, Pratish GC, Kishor Mahato, Sandeep Jora, Arjun Saud and Shyam Dhakal in the team.

Nepal are playing the Asia Cup for the first time.

Nepal and Pakistan will play in the inaugural match while Nepal will play against Indian in the second match in Sri Lanka.