Kathmandu: Central Jail authorities in Nepal refused to release serial killer Charles Sobhraj despite the country’s Supreme Court ordering his release a day earlier.
The jail authorities argued that the Supreme Court’s decision is “vague” and does not mention in which case Sobhraj has been granted release.
The 78-year-old French national was involved in a number of murder, theft and cheating cases.
He was arrested on charges of using a fake passport and murdering an American and a Canadian tourist when he travelled to Nepal in 2003. Sobhraj was sentenced to life imprisonment.
It was reduced to 21 years — 20 years for murdering foreigners and one year and a fine of Rs 2,000 for using a fake passport.
Sobhraj filed a plea for release from jail on grounds of old age.
On Wednesday, a bench of judges Sapna Pradhan Malla and Til Prasad Shrestha ordered the release of Sobhraj, who was given the name ‘bikini killer’.
The court also ordered his deportation within 15 days of his release.
