Col Lama released on bail, not to be allowed to leave UK

A Nepal Army Colonel held in the United Kingdom in January on torture charges has been released on bail.

Kumar Lama

The news comes few days after a judge at Chelmsford Crown Court ordered that Lama be released after posting a bail of £10,000 bail. The Nepali government has deposited the amount at the court on Lama's behalf, local reports said.

Kumar Lama, who was in UK to meet his family, was arrested from Sussex based on a complaint filed by a person allegedly tortured by him. Advocacy Forum, a Nepal-based human rights group, had helped file the case in collaboration with a UK law firm.

Lama will have to stay in the UK until a final verdict on the case is passed, as per the bail conditions. The Nepali government has assured the British court that it will not issue travel documents to Lama until the case is settled.

The next formal court hearing in the case is due to take place in June. Nepalnews.com