The Kathmandu District Court has sentenced former Nepal captain Sandeep Lamichhane to eight years in prison for rape, he was convicted in December 2023, according to the sources.
He was found guilty of raping a 17-year-old Kathmandu old girl in Kathmandu at a hotel in August 2022. The conviction came after a series of court proceedings in which Mr Lamichhane was first released on bail in January 2023 and the court requested that the case must be accelerated to deliver the justice as soon as possible.
Despite the charges, Lamichhane continued to play cricket and compete in tournaments for his country while on bail. His last appearance for Nepal was in the T20 Asian final against Oman in November. However, the court's decision meant he could face a heavy prison sentence and put an end to his cricketing career.
Lamichanne's legal troubles began in October 2022 when he was arrested on charges of involving minors. He was released by the court in January 2023, but the final hearing led by Judge Shishir Raj Dhakal ended in a guilty verdict. The Kathmandu District Public Prosecutor's Office had asked Lamichhane to be sentenced to 12 years in prison under the National Penal Code (Code) of 2017, but the court chose an eight-year sentence.
Lamichhane’s conviction has sent shock waves through the cricket world, not only in Nepal but all over the world. Before his downfall, he was one of the most influential figures in Nepali cricket, having taken the highest number of wickets in ODIs & T20Is for the country. He also made a name for himself by playing in some of the world’s best leagues, including the IPL for Delhi Capitals and Big Bash League.
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