Man sentenced to life term jail for rape 12 years ago

After 12 years, a Chattogram court yesterday sentenced a man to life imprisonment for raping a girl after making false promises of marriage in 2008.

The convict, Md Saddam (30) from the port city's Patharghata area, has been on the run since the case was filed in 2008.

Judge Md Moshiur Rahman Khan of Chattogram Women and Child Repression Prevention Tribunal-1 gave the verdict, said Public Prosecutor Advocate Jesmin Akhter.

She further said the court also fined the perpetrator Tk 20,000.

According to the case statement, Saddam, who was 18 at the time, raped the victim, who was his neighbour, luring the 14-year-old by making false promises of marriage on February 7, 2008.

The victim was rescued from Saddam's residence and was admitted to Chattogram Medical College Hospital's One-stop Crisis Centre.

Later, the victim's mother filed a case, accusing Saddam on February 11 that year.

After investigating, police pressed charges against Saddam on March 27, 2008, while a court framed charges in the case on November 4, 2008.

Advocate Jesmin said nine witnesses testified in the case out of 10.