Ram Bahadur Bomjan, an ascetic previously accused of child sexual abuse, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison and ordered to pay Rs 5 lakh in compensation by the Sarlahi District Court. The decision was handed down by Judge Jeevan Kumar Bhandari on Monday.

Earlier this month, on June 24, Judge Bhandari’s court found Bomjan guilty of the charges brought against him. The District Public Prosecutor’s Office in Malangwa had filed a charge sheet demanding a prison sentence of 12 to 14 years along with compensation for the victim’s family.

Bomjan is currently incarcerated in Mahottari Jail, Jaleshwar. His preliminary remand was ordered by Sarlahi District Court Judge Bishnu Prasad Regmi on January 11.