Bangladeshi journalist fined $ 20,000 in Australia for sexually assaulting Canadian girl

A court in Australia has fined one of the two Bangladeshi sports journalists arrested on charges of sexual assault of two women.

Asian TV correspondent Sohel Rahman was fined $ 20,000 by a Melbourne court on Tuesday for sexually abusing a Canadian woman backpacker in a cheap hotel.

Independent Television’s Sports Correspondent Md Golam Rahman alias Rahman Payer was acquitted by a Sydney court, as the charge against him of sexually assaulting a South Korean sportswoman could not be proven.

The Korean sportswoman, a member of a Taekwondo team, alleged she was harassed by Payer, who was covering the Cricket World Cup.

Payer’s visa was cancelled following the complaint and he secured bail, but was not freed.

Police could not present any evidence or witness as the victim and her team had left.

The court said Payer was being harassed behind bars for nothing, as the charges were not proved.

It ordered the withdrawal of charges against him.

He, however, could not be set free on Tuesday, as his visa had been cancelled.

The Independent TV journalist told bdnews24.com that his lawyer had written to the immigration department, seeking the restoration of his visa.

In line with the law, Payer will be freed once the visa is restored. He may also be sent home directly from the immigration detention centre.

The passport of Asian TV’s Sohel Rahman had been seized during his arrest and he was freed on the condition that he would collect the passport from the court.

He will have to serve 450 hours of voluntary rigorous imprisonment if he does not pay the fine.

He will be able to serve the voluntary labour for only two hours a week, which means it will take four to five months to end his imprisonment.  

He has also been listed as a sexual assaulter in Australia, which means he will never be able to travel to that country.

When contacted, Asian TV authorities said Sohel Rahman had told them that he was stranded in Australia as he had lost his passport.

The Melbourne court said his trial ended two weeks ago.

The complainant was not present in the court when the judgment was passed, as she returned to her country by then.