Order of Canada recipient Peter Dalglish found guilty in Nepal of sexually assaulting children

An Order of Canada recipient found guilty of sexually assaulting children intends to appeal a verdict delivered this week, 14 months after he was arrested at his house overlooking the Himalayas in Nepal, where he had spent the night with two young boys.

Peter Dalglish, a globe-trotting advocate for children who held multiple United Nations posts, was accused of sexually abusing the two boys, who provided graphic but inconsistent accounts of what they said Mr. Dalglish did to them. Police also found pictures of naked children in his home, although, Mr. Dalglish has argued those images were innocent in nature.

A court in Nepal found him guilty this week, although, it has not yet released the detailed text of the verdict. Sentencing is not likely to take place for another month.

The verdict comes after a series of delays in court proceedings that Mr. Dalglish’s legal counsel has likened to harassment.

“It just shows that they wanted him in prison,” said Rahul Chapagain, a Kathmandu-based lawyer who has represented him.

Mr. Dalglish did not speak when the verdict was delivered, Mr. Chapagain said.

“Obviously, we took the news as a shock, but we sustained him. He was relatively calm,” Mr. Chapagain said. Friends in Nepal were present, as were Canadian diplomats, he said.

“We respect the court’s decision, but we will appeal,” he added.

The case against Mr. Dalglish has been marked by vivid allegations and dramatic contradictions.  (more...)

Order of Canada recipient Peter Dalglish found guilty in Nepal of sexually assaulting children

Background:

Canadian humanitarian charged with child rape in Nepal, stunning villagers #AidToo