KATHMANDU: Rabi Lamichhane, the Chair of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), has denied the charges of money laundering, cooperative fraud, and organized crime in his statement to the Kaski District Police.
The supplementary report prepared by the Kaski District Police Office, which spans 427 pages, includes a six-page section dedicated to Lamichhane’s defense.
His statement, spanning pages 16 to 22, addresses the accusations and provides his explanation for the financial transactions in question.
Lamichhane is accused of illegally amassing over Rs 270 million, with the money allegedly originating from Surya Darshan Savings and Loan Cooperative.
The funds were reportedly transferred to Lamichhane’s company, Gorkha Media Network, during his time as a shareholder and managing director. Lamichhane has been accused of misappropriating these funds, which he denies.
In his statement, Lamichhane explained that the financial dealings associated with his company, Galaxy TV, were conducted in full compliance with legal procedures.
He said Galaxy TV had undergone several stages of approval by government agencies, and all taxes were properly deducted when the company began operations.
Lamichhane contended that, at the time, there was no reason to suspect that the funds received by his company were illegal, asserting that the Money Laundering Act does not account for the situation he finds himself in.
The accusations against Lamichhane are part of a broader investigation involving 44 individuals, with charges filed against Lamichhane and three others related to money laundering.
Lamichhane’s defense centers on the legitimacy of the transactions and his belief that he should not be held responsible for actions he deems legal at the time of the transactions.
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