KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — A controversial spiritual leader in Nepal known as “Buddha Boy” was sentenced Monday to 10 years in prison for sexually abusing a minor, court officials said.
Ram Bahadur Bamjan, seen by some as the reincarnation of Buddhism’s founder, was also ordered by a judge at the Sarlahi District Court in southern Nepal to pay $3,700 in damages to the victim.
The man has 70 days to appeal the court order, judicial official Sadan Adhikari said.
Police arrested Bomjan in January from a suburb of the Nepalese capital Kathmandu on charges of sexual assault and suspicion of involvement in the disappearance of at least four of his followers.
During his arrest, Nepali currency notes worth $227,000 and other foreign currency worth $23,000 were seized, police said.
Last week the court found him guilty of sexually abusing an underage girl.
Charges related to the disappearance of his followers are still pending.
Many Nepalese believe that Bamjan is the reincarnation of Siddhartha Gautama, who was born in southwestern Nepal some 2,600 years ago and was worshiped as the Buddha. Buddhist scholars are skeptical of Bamjan’s claims.
Bamjan became famous in southern Nepal in 2005.
His popularity has waned amid allegations of sexual and physical violence against his followers, but he still has camps in southern Nepal where thousands come to worship or live.
