Cybercrime case filed against Prasai, seeking 7.5-year jail term

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Dec. 12: A cybercrime charge sheet has been filed against medical entrepreneur Durga Prasai at the Kathmandu District Court. The Kathmandu District Government Attorney's Office filed the case seeking a 7.5-year prison sentence against Prasai.

Advocate Khadindra Raj Katuwal from the District Government Attorney's Office prosecuted the case.

"A case related to Electronic Transactions Act-2008 under the section-47 has been filed against Prasai. Since he has faced charges previously, the legal provision allows for an additional sentence (one-and-a-half more year in regular five-year jail term) in the same kind of cybercrime case. Accordingly, a 7.5-year prison sentence has been requested," Katuwal said.

Prasai had revealed documents provided by another person alleging that PM Oli has invested Rs. 32.50 billion in a telecom company in Cambodia in a video.

A preliminary hearing for Prasai is scheduled for Thursday. Investigations into his involvement in organised crime are also underway.

The section 47 of the Act has provisions related to publication of illegal materials in electronic form.

“If any person publishes or displays the materials,  which are prohibited to publish or display by the prevailing law or which may be contrary to the public morality or decent behaviour or any types of materials which may spread hate or jealousy against anyone or which may jeopardise the harmonious relations subsisting among the peoples of various castes, tribes and communities in the electronic media including computer, internet, shall be liable to the punishment with the fine not exceeding one hundred thousand rupees or with the imprisonment not exceeding five years or both,” says Section 47 (1) of the Act.