Republica has learnt from Kathmandu District Court (KDC) that Sibakoti, in his capacity as KDC judge, had released Ram Kumar Shrestha and Pratik Shrestha, arrested along with Sanjay Shrestha, Rohit Paliwan Agrawal and Bhimsen Pandit on charges of murder and kidnapping. [break]
The verdicts issued by Judge Sibakoti on January 8, 2009 shows that Ram Kumar was released on a Rs 75,000 bail in one kidnap case. He was arrested on three separate charges--two kidnappings and a murder. Sibakoti released him on bail of Rs 25,000 for the second kidnap and on Rs 45,000 bail in the murder case.
The decision to release Ram Kumar on very low bail in all three cases was taken on January 8, 2009.
Sibakoti released another culprit, Pratik Shresth, on even lower bail. Pratik was also arrested for the two kidnappings and murder.
Pratik was released on Rs 25,000 bail in the murder case on April 22, 2009. Sibakoti also released Pratik on Rs 75,000 and Rs 25,000 bail in the two kidnapping cases the same day.
Details of the decisions to release Ram Kumar and Pratik on very low bail in such severe cases come at a time when a high-level probe headed by Supreme Court Justice Bal Ram KC has found SC Justice Rana Bahadur Bam and two appellate court judges--Hari Bahadur Basnet and Tej Bahadur Karki--culpable in similar controversial decisions.
The Judicial Council (JC) has already recommended to parliament to initiate impeachment proceedings against SC Justice Bam. Heutada Appellate Court Judge Basent resigned following the probe´s findings and the JC is deciding the fate of Judge Karki shortly. Karki defended his decisions in clarifications submitted at the JC.
Asked about Judge Sibakoti, Chief Justice and Chairman of the JC Ram Prasad Shrestha said, "We have not yet received any complaints against him. We will initiate appropriate moves immediately after we receive complaints."
Documents at Kathmandu District Court show that police arrested Ram Kumar and Pratik after arresting Sanjay Shrestha, Rohit Paliwan Agrawal and Bhimsen Pandit. All five were involved in murder and kidnap including the kidnap of Dr Bhaktaman Shrestha a few months ago.
The JC had formed a probe after those arrested for kidnapping Dr Shrestha admitted in statements before police that they often bribed judges to stay out of detention and they kidnapped Dr Shrestha later to recover money they used to bribe judges.
The probe had concluded that judges Bam, Basnet and Karki have shown dishonesty, incompetence and non-transparency while releasing the culprits.
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