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Thursday July 04, 2024

Nepal jails ‘Buddha boy’ for 10 years over child sex abuse

By AFP
July 02, 2024
“Buddha Boy” Ram Bahadur Bomjan.— ANI/file
“Buddha Boy” Ram Bahadur Bomjan.— ANI/file 

KATHMANDU: A Nepali court on Monday sentenced a man whose followers believe him to be a reincarnation of Buddha to 10 years in prison for child sexual abuse.

Ram Bahadur Bomjan, known as “Buddha boy” by his devotees, became famous as a teenager after followers said he could meditate motionless for months without water, food or sleep.

He was convicted of child sexual abuse last week by the court in Nepal´s southern town of Sarlahi. “He has been sentenced to 10 years in jail,” Sadan Adhikari, registrar at the district court, told AFP. Bomjan was also fined 500,000 Nepali rupees ($3,743).