Alleged ringleader in kidnapping claims victim refused to return passports

The alleged ringleader in the kidnapping and assault of a fellow Bangladeshi worker at a construction site in Hulhumale’ told the Criminal Court on Friday that he, along with a group of other workers, had committed the crime after the victim refused to return their passports.

The kidnapping and assault of the Bangladeshi worker was reported to the police on March 25. According to a statement released by the police, the victim was found in Vilimale’, and subsequently taken to hospital, where he was treated for his injuries and later discharged.

On March 26, the police arrested five Bangladeshi workers in connection to the case. They are:

• MD Sha Alam, 39
• MD Mehedi Hassan, 34
• MD Hossain, 30
• Saafif Hassan, 38
• Rasal, 20

All five were accused of unlawful restraint, kidnapping, coercion and assault.

On March 27, the Criminal Court remanded all five to 15 days in police custody, after the police submitted photos of the injuries sustained by the victim, photos of knives they are believed to have used to threaten the victim, statements from attending police officers, a statement from an eye witness, snapshots of CCTV footage, the statement from the victim himself as well as his medicolegal report.

The police named MD Hossain as the ringleader.

Hossain was brought before the Criminal Court on Friday for an extension to his remand hearing.

During the hearing, the investigative officer told the court that Hossain had used dangerous weapons to inflict grievous bodily harm to the victim.

The officer said that while the crime was carried out by a group of individuals, Hossain had been the ringleader.

According to court documents, Hossain confessed to assaulting the victim, but said he resorted to it after he refused to return passports that he gave to him.

But he denied using weapons, claiming that he had only used his fists to assault the victim.

He also said that other individuals, in addition to the four others arrested, had also been involved in the crime.

The Criminal Court extended Hossain’s remand by 30 days, and the other four suspects by 15 days.

During their hearings, MD Sha Alam told the court that while he resides in the building where the crime took place, he did not harm the victim. Meanwhile, MD Mehedi Hassain admitted to being present at the scene, but denied any involvement in the assault, while Saafif Hassan and Rasal denied that any assault took place.

The case is under further investigation by the police.