Police say they have collected enough evidence to prove the rape of two female university students at a Banani hotel in late March.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Joint Commissioner Krishna Pada Roy said the accused had confessed to their crimes. “The investigation is at the final stage,” he said.
The university students filed a rape case with Banani police on May 6 against Shafat Ahmed, Nayem Ashraf, Sadman Sakif, Shafat’s driver Billal Hossain and his bodyguard Rahmat Ali more than a month after the incident at Raintree hotel.
Shafat’s father is one of the owners of Apan Jewellers. The plaintiffs said the rapists had repeatedly threatened and pressured them to withdraw the case.
The victims underwent medical tests at Dhaka Medical College as part of a legal procedure mandated by the law. The tests found no evidence of rape given that the incident took place on March 28.
An official, involved in investigation, told the Bangla Tribune they knew the medical tests would yield no results. “But this does not mean the girls were not raped,” the official, declining to be named, said.
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The official noted that the accused had confessed before the court and there were testimonies of witnesses, too. “We also have important documents. So, the accused have no chance of going scot-free.”
Joint Commissioner Krishna said they were not thinking about DMC forensic test results.
“The rape allegations have been established and we have found all evidence needed to prove the crime,” he said. “We also have the CID forensic test report. A chargesheet is being prepared.”
An official, with knowledge of the investigation, told the Bangla Tribune that CID's forensic tests found evidence of rape.
Police's Criminal Investigation Department tests confirmed that DNA found on one of the rape victims' clothes and samples from accused Nayem matched.
Investigators have received results of tests on six mobile phones seized from the accused. They have ascertained the rape allegation after examining CCTV server machine seized from Raintree and documents relating to the stay of the accused at the hotel.
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