3 jailed for 10 years over attempted rape of Australian tourist in 2019
Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal-2 Judge Rokeya Akter delivered the verdict today.
Highlights:
- Each convict fined Tk50,000
- Court acquits cottage owner for lack of evidence
- Police say accused entered cottage to steal before attempting the assault
A Cox's Bazar court has sentenced three men to 10 years of imprisonment for attempting to rape an Australian tourist during her stay in the coastal district in 2019.
Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal-2 Judge Rokeya Akter delivered the verdict today (6 July).
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Mohammad Shamim, bench assistant of the tribunal, confirmed the verdict, saying the court reached its decision after examining the testimonies of six prosecution witnesses.
The court also fined each convict Tk50,000, with an additional one month of imprisonment in default of payment.
The convicts are Md Ansarullah, 29, Abdul Gafur, 26, and Belal Uddin, 36, all residents of Pechar Dwip area under Khuniapalong union in Ramu upazila, who were absent when the verdict was announced.
The tribunal acquitted Kaiyumul Haque Chowdhury, owner of a cottage, after finding insufficient evidence against him.
The prosecution was represented by Public Prosecutor Advocate Mir Mosharraf Hossain Titu, while Advocate Mohiuddin Moin appeared for the defence.
According to the case statement, the Australian national arrived in Bangladesh on an on-arrival visa on 8 December 2019 and checked into Good Vibe Cottage, located beside Mermaid Beach Resort near Pechar Dwip in Cox's Bazar, on 14 December.
In the early hours of 16 December, the three convicts entered her cottage, held her mouth shut while she was asleep and attempted to rape her.
She sustained injuries while resisting the assault. After managing to escape from the cottage and raise the alarm, the attackers fled the scene.
The tourist later called the national emergency service 999, prompting police from Ramu Police Station to rescue her and arrange initial medical treatment in Cox's Bazar.
Police investigation found that one of the cottage's security guards had called Abdul Gafur and Belal to the premises. Investigators said the men initially entered the cottage with the intention of committing theft, but later attempted to sexually assault the tourist.
The case was filed by then Sub-Inspector Swarup Kanti Das of Himchhari Police Outpost with Ramu Police Station.
During the investigation, Ansarullah and Abdul Gafur were arrested and later confessed to their involvement in the incident during interrogation, police said.
