Cooperative embezzlement case: Rabi Lamichhane's two-day testimony concludes

Kathmandu, December 27 — The statement of Rabi Lamichhane, President of the Rashtriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and former Deputy Prime Minister, accused in the embezzlement case of the savings fund of the Suryadarshan Cooperative in Pokhara, has been completed at the Kaski District Court.

Lamichhane's statement was taken over two days in front of Judge Nitij Rai of the Kaski District Court.

During these two days, he was asked more than 26 questions and denied the accusations. He gave his statement for three hours on Thursday and the entire day on Friday. During his testimony, he stated that all responsibilities of Gorkha Media lay with GB Rai.

In his statement, Lamichhane answered the straightforward questions asked by the judge and held GB Rai responsible for difficult questions. He claimed that no funds had been withdrawn from the cooperative's account and denied any financial irregularities. He maintained that the statement given to the police was true.

The judge's questions were based on the police investigation and the charges from the government attorney's office.

The statements of other defendants, Chhabilal Joshi and Leela Pachhai, were completed before Lamichhane's statement started on Thursday. After Lamichhane's testimony, statements from the remaining defendants will be heard as scheduled.

In the cooperative fraud case, Lamichhane, Joshi, Pachhai, Krishna Bahadur Gurung, and Ram Bahadur Khanal were brought to court for questioning last Monday. The court has stated that discussions on detention and orders will take place after all defendants have given their statements.