Shafiq Rehman acquitted in Joy's kidnapping and attempted murder case

Senior journalist Shafiq Rehman has been acquitted of the seven-year sentence given to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's son and Prime Minister's ICT advisor Sajeeb Wazed Joy in the kidnapping and attempted murder case.

The court of Dhaka's Fourth Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Sheikh Tariq Ejaz announced the verdict on Tuesday (May 27). Shafiq Rehman was personally present in the court. In the verdict, the court said that the evidence and testimony presented by the prosecution could not prove the charges in the case beyond a reasonable doubt. As a result, he was acquitted.

Incidentally, the case was filed in 2015 on charges of conspiracy to kidnap and murder Sajeeb Wazed Joy, who was staying in the United States. The names of Shafiq Rehman and some others were mentioned as accused in the case. Shafiq Rehman was arrested in April 2016 and kept in jail for a long time.

Shafiq Rehman appealed to the High Court against the seven-year sentence given by the trial court, and was acquitted today after the hearing.

After the verdict, Shafiq Rehman told reporters outside the court, "I had, have, and will have faith in the law. I have always been innocent. Today, the truth has been established in the court's verdict."

Meanwhile, his lawyers expressed satisfaction in response to the verdict and said that it is a victory for justice.

According to court sources, the judicial process is still ongoing for the other accused named in the case.