Key Points:
1. The Supreme Court of Nepal sentenced Sidha Kura Dotcom’s publisher Yubaraj Kandel and editor Navin Dhungana to three months each while Rajkumar Timilsina were sentenced to six months in prison.
2. The court ruled that broadcasting unverified content without confirming its truthfulness amounts to contempt of court.
3. Although the defendants apologized for contempt, their apologies were not deemed unconditional, so the sentences were not reduced.
4. The media outlet was punished for obstructing the judicial process by broadcasting false information without verifying the facts.
5. The court mentioned that if the defendants provide a written commitment not to engage in such acts in the future, they will serve only seven days in jail; otherwise, the full three-month sentence will be enforced.Full Article:
The Supreme Court of Nepal has sentenced the editor, publisher, and presenter of Sidha Kura Dotcom to prison on charges of contempt of court. According to court spokesperson Achyut Kuinkel, the full bench of the Supreme Court on Sunday sentenced Timilsina to six months in prison, while publisher Yubaraj Kandel and editor Navin Dhungana received three months each.
The bench, led by Chief Justice Bishwambhar Prasad Shrestha and including Justices Prakashman Singh Raut, Sapana Pradhan Malla, and others, found that Sidha Kura Dotcom had repeatedly broadcast misleading content without verifying the facts. The court noted, “Such actions obstruct the functioning of the court and damage the dignity of the judiciary.”
Kandel and Dhungana apologized during the hearing, claiming they had no intent to disrespect the court. However, since their apologies were not considered unconditional, the court imposed three-month sentences. The court further stated that if they provide an unconditional apology and a written commitment to avoid such actions in the future, they would serve only seven days in jail. If they fail to apologize, they will serve the full three-month sentence.
Rajkumar Timilsina, however, did not express any remorse during the court proceedings, which led to his six-month prison sentence. The court’s ruling also mentioned that legal provisions allow for a pardon if an unconditional apology is submitted.
The case stems from a series of reports aired by Sidha Kura Dotcom under the title “Dark Files,” which alleged that Supreme Court judges had dismissed several corruption cases. After the broadcasts, a petition was filed in the Supreme Court, naming key figures from Sidha Kura Dotcom as defendants.
Following a Supreme Court order, an investigation by the Cyber Bureau concluded that the audio broadcast by Sidha Kura Dotcom was false. Consequently, the court ruled that broadcasting unverified content amounted to contempt of court, leading to the sentences.
The court emphasized, “It is the media’s responsibility to verify the facts. Broadcasting false information on sensitive matters that obstructs the judicial process is a serious offense.”
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