KATHMANDU, JANUARY 13
The Kathmandu District Court has remanded Rastriya Swatantra Party chairperson Rabi Lamichhane to police custody after the closed-door hearing on Monday in a case related to the embezzlement of cooperative funds.
His hearing was conducted on Sunday, and today. However, Lamichhane will have to stay in judicial custody until Wednesday as Tuesday is a public holiday due to Maghe Sankrati.
He was released on Thursday after being in custody for 84 days, paying a mammoth bail amount of Rs 6.5 million, and just after three days of being outside, he has been sent to custody again.
According to the officials, the arguments will resume on 15 January. On that day, after the arguments on behalf of the plaintiff are concluded, the arguments on behalf of the defendant will be held. "Tuesday is a public holiday. So Rabi Lamichhane will remain in police custody until the next hearing." the official stated.
Lamichhane went to Kathmandu District Court on Sunday to appear in person. However, he was taken into police custody after his statement was completed and the hearing had yet to begin.
Lamichhane is still facing charges in Kaski for organised crime and money laundering as well as the misuse of savings from the Pokhara-based Surya Darshan Cooperative.
The Kaski District Court ordered him to be remanded in custody for a regular trial, noting that 'there is no reasonable basis to believe that the defendant is no longer guilty'.
In Kathmandu, he has been charged with embezzling Swarnalakshmi Cooperative savings and organised crime.
Last week, the government attorney's office filed a case against 39 people, including Lamichhane, alleging that they embezzled the Swarnalakshmi Cooperative's savings and defrauded depositors, and that the act was carried out in an organised manner.
Furthermore, investigations into Lamichhane were launched in several districts after a parliamentary special committee established to investigate cooperative problems recommended action against him.
According to officials, investigations into cooperative fraud and organised crime against Lamichhane are currently underway in Rupandehi, Chitwan, and Parsa, as well as Kaski and Kathmandu.