Nepal Police has completed its investigation into suspended national cricket captain Sandeep Lamichhane, who has been accused of raping a 17-year-old, and recommended a jail term of up to 12 years.
The Metropolitan Police Circle, Gaushala, where Lamichhane has been kept, while submitting its report to Kathmandu District Attorney Office on Sunday, has stated that Lamichhane's crime invokes section 219 of the Criminal (Code) Act, 2017 which suggests 10 to 12 years of jail term if found guilty. The police have also recommended 'appropriate compensation' for the victim.
The police said their investigation found that Lamichhane had indeed raped the minor, who had later filed a case at the police station against him.
Superintendent of Police Dinesh Mainali, who is also the spokesperson at the Kathmandu Police Range, said they submitted their investigation report to the district attorney’s office. He said they recommended filing a case against Lamichhane based on the evidence gathered by police. Section 219 of the Criminal (Code) Act, 2017 states that if someone engages in sexual intercourse with a woman without her consent or with a minor girl below 18 years even with her consent, it will be taken as rape on the woman or the minor girl.
Police said their investigation found the girl is a minor and thus made the recommendation accordingly.
Now the district attorney will study the police report and decide whether to file the case in court.
The District Court, on September 7, had issued an arrest warrant against the 22-year-old cricketer acting on the case filed by Gaushala Police Circle after the girl accused him of rape.
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