Nepalese spiritual leader ‘Buddha Boy’ convicted of sexual assault on minor

Ram Bahadur Bamjan, centre in white, believed by some to be the reincarnation of Buddha, is surrounded by Buddhist monks in Nijgadh town, south of Katmandu, Nepal, in November 2008 (Binod Joshi/AP)

A court in southern Nepal has convicted a controversial spiritual leader known as Buddha Boy on charges of sexually assaulting a minor.

Ram Bahadur Bamjan, who is believed by some to be the reincarnation of the founder of Buddhism, was arrested by police in January on charges of sexual assault and suspicion of involvement in the disappearance of at least four followers from his camps.