Former cricket captain Sandeep Lamichhane has been sentenced to eight years in prison for rape by a Nepalese court on Wednesday. Lamichhane, once a celebrated figure in Nepali cricket, faced accusations in 2022 of raping a young woman in a Kathmandu hotel. Despite being released on bail and participating in international tournaments, he was convicted in December, and his sentence was announced recently.
Kathmandu district court official Ramu Sharma confirmed the eight-year sentence and disclosed that Lamichhane was ordered to pay a court fine of 300,000 Nepalese rupees ($2,255) and an additional 200,000 rupees ($1,500) to the victim, considering the mental impact of the attack on her. Lamichhane, currently not in custody, did not attend the sentencing. His lawyer, Saroj Ghimire, stated that they plan to appeal the decision in a higher court.
The victim initially claimed she was a minor during the assault, but the court ruled her age as 18 in a previous decision. Lamichhane consistently denied the charges, maintaining public support. Despite an arrest warrant, he continued playing cricket, with his ban lifted after being released on bail.
His return to the national team sparked both support and opposition. Scotland’s cricketers refused to shake hands with him during an international tournament in Dubai. Cricket’s popularity in Nepal has been growing, with the country granted one-day international status in 2018. Lamichhane played a significant role in this rise, becoming a sought-after cricketer in global leagues.
Reported rape cases in Nepal numbered around 2,300 in the 2021-22 fiscal year, yet rights advocates believe many cases go unreported. The #MeToo movement in Nepal has seen limited participation, and those accused have often faced minimal consequences.
