KHANDAKER RAHMAN FROM SWANSEA FACES SERIOUS CHARGES OF CHILD RAPE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT AT MOSQUE
In a case that has shocked the community of Swansea, Khandaker Rahman, a man once regarded with respect within the local Muslim community, has been accused of heinous crimes involving a young girl at a mosque in South Wales.The allegations date back to 2005, but it was only in recent years that the victim, now an adult, came forward to reveal the details of her traumatic experiences.
According to court proceedings, Rahman lured the young girl, who was under the age of 13 and from a devout Muslim family, into a secluded area of the mosque by asking her to accompany him to the library.
Once there, he forcibly pushed her into a washroom, where he attacked her.
The girl, who did not report the incident at the time, later recounted that Rahman assaulted her by touching her breasts and buttocks during subsequent visits to the mosque.
The Swansea Crown Court heard that these disturbing events occurred in a mosque located in South Wales.
It was not until 2018 that the victim confided in her husband about what had happened, prompting her to report the matter to the police.
Rahman was subsequently arrested at Heathrow Airport, bringing the case to a formal investigation.
Rahman, who resides on Gwilym Street in Cwmdu, Swansea, had previously faced trial twice in 2020.
However, both trials were halted due to health issues.
The second trial, scheduled for November 2020, was abandoned after a juror tested positive for COVID-19.
In December 2020, Rahman suffered a heart attack, and later developed dementia, which significantly impacted his ability to stand trial in the traditional manner.
As a result, the court conducted a special trial where the jury was asked to determine only whether Rahman committed the acts he was accused of, rather than to decide his guilt or innocence.
During the proceedings, the victim provided a detailed account of her ordeal.
She described how Rahman had asked her to accompany him to the mosque’s library before pushing her into a washroom, where she fell and hit her head.
She recounted how Rahman then climbed on top of her, causing her intense pain between her legs as he moved against her.
The young woman described being face-to-face with her attacker, noting his strong body odor.
She explained that the assault lasted only a few minutes before she managed to pull up her trousers and run out of the mosque to her father, who was waiting outside in a car.
She also revealed that she had made excuses to avoid returning to the mosque, which was a significant step for a girl from a devout Muslim family.
Despite her efforts to stay away, she admitted that Rahman had touched her breasts and bottom on the few occasions she did attend.
Expressing feelings of guilt for not reporting the assaults sooner, she also expressed concern that Rahman might have harmed other females.
The defendant, who did not attend his trial and did not give evidence, was represented by his legal team.
The court heard from his police interview, in which Rahman dismissed the allegations as “lies, lies lies.” The jury, after deliberating for just over two hours, found Rahman guilty of one count of raping a child under 13 and two counts of sexual assault.
Sentencing for Rahman has been scheduled for July 22, with the court considering the severity of the crimes committed in a community that once held him in high regard.
