KATHMANDU: Former Deputy Prime Minister and CPN-UML leader Top Bahadur Rayamajhi has been released from Dillibazar Prison after receiving a sentence reduction under legal provisions for senior citizens.

Rayamajhi, 65, was serving a four-year prison sentence for his involvement in the fake Bhutanese refugee scam. He was released on Thursday morning and handed over to his wife and other family members, according to prison sources.

“He was handed over to his wife and some other family members. He left the prison this morning,” a prison source said.

Rayamajhi had approached the court seeking the benefits available to senior citizens under existing laws. Following his application, the court issued a revised prison warrant, allowing him to receive a 25 per cent reduction in his sentence.

The Kathmandu District Court subsequently informed the prison administration of its decision through an official letter.

Rayamajhi was arrested on May 15, 2023, in connection with the fake Bhutanese refugee scam, in which Nepali citizens were allegedly deceived into paying large sums of money in exchange for being sent to the United States as Bhutanese refugees.

He was convicted of fraud, organised crime and offences against the state. The court initially imposed separate sentences for the offences, but the aggregate punishment was set at four years in prison and a fine of Rs 40,000 after accounting for overlapping sentences.

His release follows the legal provision granting senior citizens a 25 per cent reduction in their prison terms.