KATHMANDU: Rastriya Swatantra Party chair Rabi Lamichhane arrived at the Kathmandu District Court early Sunday morning for his statement regarding the Swarnalakshmi Multipurpose Cooperative fraud case.
He reached the court premises in a Scorpio SUV, accompanied by a few associates, smiling and waving to supporters and journalists before entering the courtroom.
Lamichhane appeared before Judge Madhav Prasad Adhikari’s bench, where his statement was recorded.
Although his statement was completed, the detention hearing could not proceed, prompting the judge to order his transfer to custody.
Following the court’s decision, Lamichhane exited the courtroom in his usual confident manner, waving to his supporters and saluting them before boarding a police van.
He was escorted to the Bhadrakali detention center, which has a newly constructed facility designed to accommodate high-profile detainees.
Lamichhane is facing allegations of embezzling Rs 1.19 billion from 690 depositors of the Swarnalakshmi Cooperative.
The Kathmandu District Police Office has filed cases against him and 43 others, seeking damages for the misappropriated funds.
This development follows Lamichhane’s release on bail last Thursday, after posting Rs 6.5 million in a separate fraud case involving the Suryadarshan Cooperative.
The court has announced that the detention hearing for the current case will commence on Monday.
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