The Kathmandu District Court has handed down an eight-year prison sentence and 5 lakhs fine to cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane in connection with a rape case.

The verdict was delivered by a single bench presided over by Judge Shishir Raj Dhakal.

Lamichhane, who was found guilty on December 29, faced the court today for the sentencing hearing. The cricketer was accused of taking advantage of the poor financial situation of the victim and committing the act.

The court’s ruling emphasized that the offense was established under Section 219 (1, 2, and 3) (e) of the Civil Code 2074, stating that the act was non-consensual.

The case, initially registered in October 2022, involved the alleged rape of a minor.

However, the court later determined that the victim, referred to as Gaushala 26, had reached the age of 18. Despite the victim being legally considered an adult, Lamichhane was found guilty of rape, as the act was proven to be non-consensual.