Sohel Rahman a Bangladeshi Journalist and an Asian TV correspondent was found guilty of sexually abusing a Canadian woman by a Melbourne Court. Bdnews24 reported that the woman was a backpacker and Rahman was fined $20000.
Rahman was not alone as Independent Television’s Sports Correspondent Rahman Payer was also acquitted of a sexual charge by a Sydney Court. The victim was a South Korean sportswoman. Payer was covering the 2015 Cricket World Cup in Australia when the woman was allegedly harassed by Payer. She was a part of the Taekwondo team from South Korea.
Payer’s visa was cancelled after the first complaint of sexual abuse. He got bail but was not freed. But police could not find enough evidence against Payer and thus he is set to be released. With his passport already cancelled, Payer’s lawyers have applied for a restoration and Payer will be sent to his country directly from the detention centre.
Rahman on the other hand was added in the list of sexual assaulters in Australia. This means that he can never go back to the country in his life. His passport has been restored and Rahman will have to collect it after paying the fine or working for 450 hours of voluntary rigorous imprisonment in case he fails to pay the fine. However, he can work only 2 hours a week on the voluntary labor and this will take at least 5 months for him to be released.
The Asian TV was contacted in wake of the incident involving their correspondent. They said that Raham told them that he was stranded in the island continent after losing his passport. However, the trial ended two weeks ago and the complainant was not present during the hearing as she has already left for her country.