"Boy Revered as 'Buddha's Reincarnation'... Now 33, Fallen as a Juvenile Sex Offender"

Convicted of Sexual Abuse of a Minor
Also Accused of Multiple Assault Charges Beyond Sexual Abuse

A man in Nepal, who was revered as the "Buddha Boy" and claimed to be the reincarnation of Buddha, has been convicted of sexually abusing a minor. On the 26th, foreign media including the Hong Kong South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that the Sarlahi District Court in Nepal sentenced Ram Bahadur Bamjan (33) to guilty on charges of sexually abusing a minor. The judge of the Sarlahi District Court acknowledged the charges of raping a minor girl as guilty and explained that the specific details and sentencing will be announced on the 1st of next month. Locally, it is expected that he could face up to 14 years in prison.

A man in Nepal, who was revered as the "Buddha Boy" and claimed to be the reincarnation of Buddha, has been convicted of sexually abusing a minor. The photo shows Bahadur Bamjan in 2008.
[Photo by AP·Yonhap News]

This case arose when a Buddhist nun in Nepal accused Bamjan in 2018, stating that "when she was 18, Bamjan raped her at one of the ashrams (secluded meditation centers)." After the court issued an arrest warrant for sexual abuse charges, Bamjan went into hiding and was arrested in January. At the time of arrest, the police revealed that he was carrying cash amounting to 30 million Nepalese Rupees (approximately 310 million KRW) and foreign currency worth 23,500 USD (about 31 million KRW).

Bamjan is also facing multiple assault charges in addition to the minor sexual abuse allegations. It is reported that he claimed the victims were beaten because they disturbed his meditation. He is also suspected of involvement in the disappearance of four followers in 2019. However, Bamjan's lawyer stated, "There is insufficient evidence to prove the charges," and added, "We plan to appeal to a higher court." Bamjan is also suspected of involvement in the disappearance of four followers in 2019.

Bamjan gained fame in 2005 when he was 15 years old by claiming that he "received a divine command" and entered the jungles of southeastern Nepal to meditate for 10 months without food or water. He is known to have had numerous followers at present.