Rangamati June 13,(V7N)- A private tutor in Rangamati has been sentenced to death by hanging until dead for the attempted rape and subsequent murder of a young student. On Thursday, Judge A.E.M. Ismail Hossain of the Rangamati Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal issued the verdict in the presence of the defendant, the victim's parents, lawyers, police, and media personnel. This marks the first death sentence issued by the tribunal in such a case in Rangamati.
 
The prosecutor, Advocate Saiful Islam Avi, and the defense lawyer, Advocate Mamunur Rashid Mamun, both expressed satisfaction with the verdict.
 
The incident occurred on February 2, 2019, when the victim, 9-year-old Mitali Marma, a third-grade student, went for private tutoring with local teacher Angbaching Marma, also known as Abasu or Bamong. After sending other students home, the teacher attempted to rape Mitali. When she screamed, he strangled her with a rope and cloth, then hid her body in a sack in his home. The victim's family grew suspicious when the teacher claimed he had sent her home after an extra 30 minutes of tutoring. Villagers kept watch on him and caught him the next morning attempting to dispose of the body. They handed him over to the police after a severe beating.
 
Mitali's father filed a case under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act and the Penal Code, leading to the police filing charges. After a trial where 20 witnesses testified, including three doctors, the court found the teacher guilty of both attempted rape and murder.
 
Judge Ismail Hossain, in his written statement, emphasized the heinous nature of the crime and the cold-blooded actions of the 46-year-old defendant. Considering the severe impact on the victim and society, the judge ruled out any leniency. The court sentenced Angbaching Marma to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Tk 50,000 under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act, and death by hanging along with a fine of Tk 100,000 under the Penal Code. The fines are to be given to the victim's family.
 
The victim's father expressed his satisfaction with the judgment and urged its swift execution. The prosecutor noted the verdict as a landmark decision for society, while the defense lawyer acknowledged the verdict's role in raising awareness and said he would consider appealing if the convict's family wished.
 
END/V7N/AMR/DK/