Nine, Including Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, Sentenced to Four Years in Fake Bhutanese Refugee Case; Bal Krishna Khand Gets Two Years

Dragon Media News Desk

The Kathmandu District Court has sentenced former deputy prime minister Top Bahadur Rayamajhi and eight other principal offenders to four years in prison in the fake Bhutanese refugee case. Former home minister Bal Krishna Khand has been sentenced to two years for his role as an accomplice.

A bench of Judge Tej Bahadur Khadka determined the sentences on Tuesday, handing Rayamajhi a four-year prison term and a fine of Rs 40,000. Khand received a two-year prison sentence and a fine of Rs 20,000.

The maximum prison sentence imposed in the case was four years.

Others sentenced to four years include former home secretary Tek Narayan Pandey, former home minister’s security adviser Dr Indrajit Rai, former lawmaker Angtawa Sherpa, Keshav Prasad Dulal, Sanu Bhandari, Sagar Rai, Sandesh Sharma and Govinda Kumar Chaudhary.

The court had found them guilty as principal offenders involved in organised fraud and offences against the state.

Khand was convicted as an accomplice rather than a principal architect of the scheme. The court imposed half the sentence given to the principal offenders after concluding that he had facilitated policy and administrative processes under the influence of the group.

Bhutanese refugee leader Tek Nath Rizal, Khand’s former personal secretary Narendra KC, former Nepal Hajj Committee chairman Shamsher Miya, Haribhakta Maharjan and Niranjan Kumar Kharel were given lesser sentences according to the nature and extent of their involvement.

Rizal was convicted of forging official documents and acting as an accomplice in organised fraud and offences against the state. Narendra KC, Shamsher Miya, Haribhakta Maharjan and Niranjan Kumar Kharel were also found guilty as accomplices in organised fraud and offences against the state. Bechan Jha was convicted of fraud.

The case concerns a scheme in which Nepali citizens were allegedly promised resettlement in the United States after being falsely identified as Bhutanese refugees. Prosecutors had filed charges involving fraud, organised crime, forgery of government documents, offences against the state and integrated offences.

The indictment alleged that more than Rs 288.1 million had been collected from victims.

The Kathmandu District Court delivered its verdict on guilt on Asar 23. Under Nepal’s sentencing law, cases carrying possible prison terms of more than three years require separate hearings for conviction and sentencing. The sentences were determined on Tuesday following that process.

Of the 31 defendants named in the case, 16 were convicted and seven were acquitted. Proceedings against eight defendants who remain at large have been suspended until they are arrested.

Those acquitted were Ram Sharan KC, Tanka Kumar Gurung, Sandeep Rayamajhi, Pratik Thapa, Laxmi Maharjan, Keshav Tuladhar and Ashish Budhathoki.

Proceedings against fugitives Ashok Pokharel, Dhiren Rai, Deepa Humagain, Niraj Rai, Rajesh Aryal, Mohan Raj Rai, Binita Sawaden Limbu and Sunil Budhathoki have been placed on hold.

Prosecutors and defendants dissatisfied with the convictions or sentences may appeal to the High Court within the period prescribed by law. The case will reach final judicial resolution only after the appeals process is completed.