Courts / Dublin / Report

Mosque teacher who molested girl (6) has sentenced almost quadrupled

Summary

Abdur Rashid, a 51‑year‑old Bangladeshi religious teacher living in Dublin, was found guilty of molesting a six‑year‑old girl during a mosque lesson in December 2015. He was originally sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment, with the last four months suspended, by Judge Pauline Codd in November 2018. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed, arguing the sentence was too lenient. The Court of Appeal, in a three‑judge panel, increased the term to four‑and‑a‑half years. The court held that Rashid's conduct—kissing the child in an adult manner, placing his hands under her clothing and touching her genital area—was of considerable gravity. It noted the victim's trauma, including nightmares and anxiety, and the impact on her family. The appeal court found the original judge had erred in setting a two‑year pre‑mitigation headline sentence, and set a five‑and‑a‑half‑year starting point, with a one‑year discount for mitigating factors. Abdur Rashid pleaded not guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Mosque teacher who molested girl (6) has sentenced almost quadrupled. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

• December 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2019-05-08 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Appeal

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Read the original CNI report