Kathmandu, Nov 12: Former Deputy Prime Minister Top Bahadur Rayamajhi has been released from prison today after serving three years and six months.
Rayamajhi was serving his sentence at Dillibazar Prison after being convicted in the fake Bhutanese refugee scam, in which Nepali citizens were fraudulently presented as Bhutanese refugees and sent to the United States.
Rayamajhi had filed an application at the Kathmandu District Court seeking a sentence reduction under the age-related provision for senior citizens. He turned 65 on Kartik 26. He is set to be released following a court order.
Along with his application, he submitted documents confirming that he had reached the age of 65, making him eligible for the concession granted to senior citizens. A letter from the court directing the prison authorities to release him today has already reached Dillibazar Prison.
Rayamajhi has been in custody since Baisakh 31, 2080. On Asar 30, 2083, the Kathmandu District Court convicted him in the fake Bhutanese refugee scam and sentenced him to four years in prison.
He was found guilty of fraud, offences against the state and organised crime. On Kartik 13, a bench of Kathmandu District Court Judge Rajendra Singh Bhandari decided to grant him the concession available to senior citizens and ordered his release.
Section 12 of the Senior Citizens Act, 2006 (2063 BS), provides for a sentence reduction of up to 25 percent for senior citizens who have reached the age of 65.
Rayamajhi was sentenced to two years in prison and fined Rs 20,000 for fraud; three years in prison and fined Rs 30,000 for organised crime; and one year and six months in prison and fined Rs 15,000 for offences against the state. He was also sentenced to four years in prison and fined Rs 40,000 under the combined offence provision.
Although his prison sentence has been reduced, he will still have to pay all the fines imposed for the offences.
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