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Nepal's Colonel Kumar Lama held after court appearance | Nepal's Colonel Kumar Lama held after court appearance |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A Nepalese army officer has been remanded in custody after appearing at Westminster Magistrates court charged with two counts of torture. | A Nepalese army officer has been remanded in custody after appearing at Westminster Magistrates court charged with two counts of torture. |
Colonel Kumar Lama is accused of committing the alleged crimes in Nepal during the country's civil war in 2005. | Colonel Kumar Lama is accused of committing the alleged crimes in Nepal during the country's civil war in 2005. |
The 46-year-old, currently seconded to the UN, was arrested at his East Sussex home by the Met Police on Thursday. | The 46-year-old, currently seconded to the UN, was arrested at his East Sussex home by the Met Police on Thursday. |
He faces trial in Britain under a law that allows prosecution of alleged war criminals. | He faces trial in Britain under a law that allows prosecution of alleged war criminals. |
Col Lama spoke once to confirm his identity at the hearing, where he was charged with intentionally "inflicting severe pain or suffering" as a public official on two separate individuals. | |
The offences are thought to have taken place between April and May 2005 and April and October 2005 at the Gorusinghe Army Barracks in Kapilvastu, Nepal. | |
Protest note | |
Col Lama's arrest in St Leonards-on-Sea near Hastings has angered the Nepalese government, who have requested Col Lama's immediate release. | |
They have summoned the UK ambassador in Kathmandu to protest and instructed the Nepalese embassy in London to submit a protest note to Downing Street. | |
Two diplomats from the Nepalese embassy were at Westminster Magistrates for the short hearing. | |
Col Lama is currently employed as a UN peace keeper in South Sudan. He was due to return to Africa on Saturday after a Christmas break to the UK, but was arrested on 3 January. | |
The court heard the colonel had previously served as a UN peacekeeper in Sierra Leone and twice in Lebanon. | |
District Judge Quentin Purdy ordered the 46-year-old to remain in custody before he appears at the Old Bailey in London on 24 January. |
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