The Special Court on Tuesday convicted five people, including former minister for economic affairs of Madhesh Province Bijaya Kumar Yadav, in a corruption case.

The bench of Special Court chairperson Tek Narayan Kunwar and members Tej Narayan Singh Rai and Muraribabu Shrestha convicted them of corruption in the snake breeding programme of the Jhala Nath Khanal Academy of Health Sciences.

Academy chair Rewati Prasad Pant, general secretary Nawaraj Bhandari, treasurer Niraj Bhandari and member Devendra Raya were also pronounced guilty. The next hearing will determine the punishment for them.

The then mayor of Lalbandi Municipality Man Bahadur Khadka and the then economic affairs secretary of the Madhesh government Prem Kumar Shrestha have been acquitted.

On October 8 last year, the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority filed a Rs170.9 million corruption case against seven individuals, including the then minister. They were accused of embezzling government funds by diverting them from their original purpose.