2 South Africans sentenced to 15yrs in prison for killing Bangladeshi businessman

A South African court has sentenced two of its nationals to 15 years in prison for killing Bangladeshi businessman Shahidur Rahman.

A Durban court gave the verdict on August 12, 2022 (Friday) in the presence of one of the accused, Kankenyezi Segatli, in the killing.

Police arrested two people, including Segatli and one other person is absconding. The other arrestee died by suicide in prison.

According to Bangladeshi community sources, the victim Shahidur Rahman from Keraniganj in Dhaka, had been living in Durban for a long time with his wife and two children.

He had a timber business near Durban.

According to family sources, Shahidur Rahman went out of his house on July 7, last year for work and did not return. About 15 days later, local police recovered his half-decomposed body.

Later, Shahidur's wife filed a case with the local police station. Police raided the Mozambique border area and recovered his car.

During investigation, police arrested Segatli who was involved in Shahidur's timber business.

In his confessional statement, Segatli said Shahidur and he had a dispute over business affairs. Based on which he was abducted and taken to the border area and hacked to death with a sharp weapon.

Police operation is ongoing to nab the absconding convict.

Umme Salma, wife of the deceased, said, "After one year and two months, the verdict was given. The Bangladesh Embassy stood by me with all kinds of support."

"My sons will be able to forget some sadness after seeing the punishment of their father's killer.  

The fact that I received justice for my husband's murder in a nation like South Africa is a blessing," she added.

The writer is an expatriate journalist living in South Africa.