The District Government Attorney Office, Kathmandu on Thursday filed a chargesheet against Krishna Bahadur Mahara, former speaker of the House of Representatives, at Kathmandu District court, demanding five to seven-and-a-half years in jail for a rape attempt on a woman who works at the Parliament Secretariat.

Mahara was arrested on October 6, two days after the woman lodged an attempt to rape complaint with police.

“A chargesheet was filed today, but we could not record his statement due to the lack of time,” Gyan Bahadur Karki, an information officer at the court, told the Post. “Hearing on the case will start tomorrow after recording his statements.”

Four days after his arrest, Mahara was admitted to Norvic Hospital after he complained of chest pain.

“The court sent Mahara back to custody after the chargesheet was filed. But he has been taken to the hospital as he is yet to be discharged,” said Senior Superintendent Uttam Raj Subedi, chief of the Metropolitan Police Range.

According to Assistant District Attorney Numaraj Khanal, the District Government Attorney Office has sought 3.5 to 5 years of jail for an attempt to rape on a woman above 18 years of age. And additional jail term—one and a half times more—has been sought for rape attempt because this involves a person holding a public office.

According to the Muluki Criminal Code Clause 219, Sub-clause 3 (e), a person raping a women above 18 years of age is liable to seven to 10 years in jail and those attempting rape will get half the punishment of rape—3.5 to 5 years. The punishment varies according to the gravity of the crime, which is basically determined by the age and state of the victims.

District Attorney Umakanta Poudel, who presented the chargesheet against Mahara at the district court, said the court will record Mahara’s statements on Friday.

“The court then will decide whether to keep him in judicial custody or release him on general date,” Poudel told the Post. “After studying all the evidence and recording the accuser’s statement, the court will decide whether the evidence establishes Mahara’s crime.”

[Read: The Mahara case once again exposes the Nepal Police’s shortcomings]