Bangladeshi cricketer Rubel acquitted of charges

A trial court on Wednesday acquitted Bangladeshi cricketer Rubel Hossain of all charges brought against him by actress Naznin Akter Happy.

Dhaka's Fifth Women and Child Repression Prevention Tribunal accepted police's chargesheet, which said no proof was found against the fast bowler. It also scrapped a 'non-acceptance' plea by the actress. The cricketer and actress were both present in court, reports bdnews24.com.

In an immediate reaction, Happy's lawyer Tuhin Hawlader said they would appeal against the order in High Court.

"The judge gave importance to Rubel Hossain, the cricketer, and not to the merit of the case as well as faults in the investigation. The judge saw cricket, not the law," said the lawyer.

Happy filed the case in December last year, accusing the fast bowler of backing off from marriage after being intimate with her for months. Hossain has been denying the allegations, saying the aspiring actress was 'blackmailing' him.

Victim Support Centre's Inspector Halima Khatun, the case's investigation officer, submitted her findings to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court on April 6. The report said the evidences of rape Happy presented could not prove the allegation. A three-strong medical board also examined the plaintiff and said they did not find proof of forced sex.

Dhaka's Metropolitan Magistrate Ataul Haque forwarded the case docket along with the final report to Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal on April 13.

Happy later filed a general diary with the police claiming she was being threatened. On May 17, the actress filed a no-confidence in the police report advising Hossain's acquittal. The actress alleged that police had prepared the report 'without speaking to the witnesses' and sought the acquittal of the three accused following an 'imaginary investigation' and sought further investigation.

"He should not be given bail as he is threatening my client. We've filed two GDs (general diary) over this," her lawyer Abdullah Mansur Ripon said. He submitted two CDs of recorded phone 'threats'. The judge had ordered the investigation officer to look into the matter.

During Wednesday's hearing, Happy told the court: "The investigation officer did not listen to anything that I said. She did not also talk to any of my witnesses."