A spiritual leader in Nepal known as "Buddha Boy", was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for sexually assaulting a minor, the Associated Press reported, citing BTA, referring to a court statement.
The Sarlahi District Court ordered convicted Ram Bahdur Bamjan - considered by some to be the reincarnation of the founder of Buddhism - to also pay $3,700 to the victim.
The man has 70 days to appeal the court's decision, court spokesman Sadan Adhikari said.
In January, police arrested Bamjan in a suburb of Nepal's capital, Kathmandu, on charges of sexual assault and suspected complicity in the disappearance of at least four of his followers. During the arrest, Nepalese rupee notes worth $227,000 and other foreign currencies worth a total of $23,000 were seized from him, police said.
Last week, the court found him guilty of sexually assaulting an underage girl. Charges related to the disappearance of his followers are still pending.
A number of Nepalis believe that Bamjan is a reincarnation of Siddhartha Gautama, born in southwestern Nepal about 2,600 years ago and revered as the Buddha. Scholars studying Buddhism, however, are skeptical of the claims.
Bamjan became popular in southern Nepal in 2005
His popularity has gradually waned amid accusations of sexual and physical abuse against his followers, although he still runs spiritual camps in southern Nepal, where thousands of people go on pilgrimage or to live with him.