Nepalese Buddhist Boy Convicted Of Child Abuse Case

JAKARTA - Nepal's court found a man believed to be thousands of people as Buddhist reincarnation guilty of cases of sexual abuse of children.

As a teenager, Ram Bahadur Bomjon drew international attention in 2005 when tens of thousands of people came to see the so-called 'B Buddha boy' sitting in a tree in the dense forest southeast of Nepal for nearly 10 months.

Followers say Buddha Boy can meditate for several days without water, food or sleep.

Sadan Adhikari, clerk of Sarlahi's district court, said Bomjon was found guilty of sexually abusing children, without providing details. The court will punish Bomjon, 33, on July 1, continued Adhikari, reported by Reuters, Tuesday, June 25.

Bombjon Buddha Boy, who faces up to 14 years in prison, could not be reached for comment. His lawyer, Dilip Kumar Jha, said there was no incriminating evidence of his client and they would appeal the case in a higher court.

In January 2024, Bomjon 'Buddha Boy' was arrested by the Nepal Police Central Bureau of Investigation (CIB) from home on the outskirts of Kathmandu where he had been hiding since the court issued an arrest warrant against him following allegations of sexual harassment.