KATHMANDU: After a week-long final hearing in the rape case against former Nepal Men’s Cricket Team captain Sandeep Lamichhane, the Kathmandu District Court convicted the key member of the national team for the allegations.

District Court Judge Shirish Raj Dhakal delivered the verdict on Friday evening, concluding the final hearing.

The alleged victim, claiming to be a minor, had sought a 10 to 12-year sentence for the cricketer. However, a key issue in the case revolved around establishing the exact age of the victim, as her date of birth varied across different documents.

Regarding the victim’s age, the Court concluded that she was no longer a minor at the time of the incident. However, Lamichhane has been declared guilty of a relationship without consent.

The Court informed that the announcement on the fine and sentence against Lamichhane will be announced on January 10.

As per Section 219 (2) of the National Penal Code Act, 2017, if a man has sexual intercourse with a woman without her consent or with a girl child below eighteen years of age even with her consent, the man shall be considered to commit rape on such a woman or girl child.

As per Section 219 (3), a person who commits rape shall be liable to the sentence of imprisonment as follows, having regard to the circumstances of such sexual intercourse and the age of the woman:

(a) Imprisonment for a term of sixteen to twenty years, if she is a girl child below ten years of age,

(b) Imprisonment for a term of fourteen to sixteen years, if she is a girl child who is ten years or above ten years of age but below fourteen years of age,

(c) Imprisonment for a term of twelve to fourteen years, if she is a girl child who is fourteen or above fourteen years of age but below sixteen years of age,

(d) Imprisonment for a term of ten to twelve years, if the woman is sixteen or above sixteen years of age but below eighteen years of age,

(e) Imprisonment for a term of seven to ten years, if the woman is eighteen or above eighteen years of age.

As the court has already declared Sandeep Lamichhane guilty and concluded that the victim is not a minor, Lamichhane is likely to face a jail term of seven to ten years.