Restaurant Workers Convicted of Sexually Assaulting Teenage Girls

Two restaurant workers, Muhammad Abdur Rakib, the head chef of Zara's Indian Cuisine, and Muhammad Abdul Kaium, the manager, were convicted of sexually assaulting two teenage girls after taking them on an all-expenses-paid night out in Aberdeen. The victims, aged 16 and 17, described how the men, both aged 37, took them to a nightclub for drinks before leading them to a city-center hotel, where the assaults took place.

Key Takeaways:

• The assaults occurred on February 11, 2023, at the Mercure Hotel in Aberdeen, where Rakib and Kaium took the girls after a night out at a nightclub.
• Rakib was found guilty of sexually assaulting both girls in a room at the hotel, while Kaium was found guilty of sexually assaulting one of the girls in the car journey into Aberdeen.
• The victims described being subjected to unwanted touching, kissing, and biting by the men, with one of them eventually being pinned down by Rakib's knees to prevent her from leaving.
• Rakib maintained his innocence throughout the trial, but excerpts from his police interview were read to the court, in which he claimed he had misunderstood the girls' consent.
• The trial was delayed on several occasions due to issues with interpreters and new defense evidence.
• The men will return to court in July for sentencing.

Statistics:

• 4 days of trial evidence presented by the prosecution.
• 2 victims, aged 16 and 17, described the assaults.
• 1 room at the Mercure Hotel where the assaults took place.
• 1 car used by Kaium to assault one of the girls.
• 1 night out at a nightclub before the assaults.
• 1 head chef, Muhammad Abdur Rakib, convicted of sexually assaulting both girls.
• 1 manager, Muhammad Abdul Kaium, convicted of sexually assaulting one of the girls.
• Trial delayed on 3 occasions due to interpreter issues and new defense evidence.

Sources:

• [Source 1: "Trial: Muhammad Abdul Kaium and Muhammad Abdur Rakib" article by Jamie Ross]