Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: The parliamentary position of Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) President Rabi Lamichhane has been automatically suspended following the registration of a money laundering case against him.
The District Government Attorney’s Office, Kaski, filed a charge sheet at the Kaski District Court, accusing Lamichhane of laundering Rs 278.9 million.
According to Surya Raj Dahal, spokesperson for the Kaski District Government Attorney’s Office, the registration of the charge sheet automatically triggered the suspension of Lamichhane’s position as a Member of the House of Representatives. “The provision in Section 27 of the Asset (Money) Laundering Prevention Act, 2008 is clear,” Dahal said. “Following the registration of a case under Section 22, Section 27 mandates the automatic suspension of the parliamentary position.”
Section 27 of the Act states that any official, employee or public servant accused under Section 22 of the Act will be automatically suspended from their position until the case is resolved.
“It is notified that as per Section 27 of the Asset (Money) Laundering Prevention Act, 2008, Rabi Lamichhane, a Member of the House of Representatives elected from Chitwan-2 constituency representing the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), is automatically suspended following the registration of a case under Section 22 of the Act, until the case is resolved,” the charge sheet against Lamichhane states.
Manish Jha, acting spokesperson for RSP, said he was aware of the provision in the Act that would lead to the automatic suspension of Lamichhane’s parliamentary position. He added that the party now needs to appoint a new president and parliamentary leader.
“The law states that the parliamentary position will be automatically suspended upon the registration of a money laundering case. This will be implemented accordingly,” Jha said. “We are now in a position where the party will also to select a new president and parliamentary leader.”
Jha added that the party will hold a meeting in the coming days to decide on the appointment.
