KATHMANDU, Dec 31: The recording of statements of seven people, including Rabi Lamichhane, the chairman of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), who are accused in the Surya Darshan Cooperative fraud case, was completed on Tuesday at the Kaski District Court.
At the bench of District Judge Nitij Rai, statements were given by Rabi Lamichhane, Chhabilal Joshi, Lila Pachai, Ram Bahadur Khanal, Mina Gurung, Arati Gurung, and Krishna Bahadur Gurung. After Arati Gurung's final statement, the detention hearing began.
RSP intensifies protest against Chairman Lamichhane’s arrest
Earlier, on December 22, the authorities filed an additional charge claiming a loss of Rs 1.51 billion. The District Government Attorney's Office has requested the court to remand all seven individuals to prison until the next hearing, while the defense lawyers have argued for the release of the accused on their own recognizance.
Charges have been filed against 19 individuals, including Rabi Lamichhane, for cooperative fraud, organized crime, and money laundering. On December 20, an additional charge was filed, and a case has been registered at the Kaski court against 63 individuals, including eight legal entities (companies) and five individuals, who have been made defendants for asset confiscation purposes.
After the detention hearing, Judge Rai's bench will decide whether to remand the defendants to prison until the next hearing, release them on bail, or release them on their own recognizance.
