Bangladeshi arrested in Italy for attempting to kill policewoman after rape

A Bangladeshi man has been arrested in the Italian port city of Napoli (Naples) on charges of attempting to murder a policewoman after raping her.

The accused was identified as Rubel Matbar, from Kalkini upazila of Madaripur. After losing his validity, he was trying to stay in Italy as an irregular worker.

The Bangladesh Embassy and the expatriate Bangladeshi community confirmed the matter to The Daily Star.

Bangladesh Ambassador to Italy Shameem Ahsan told The Daily Star, "We first came to know the matter from Fiorella Breglia, honourary consul general of Bangladesh in Naples."

"We are waiting for a detailed report regarding the incident," he said, adding that he had enquired about the matter from the Embassy in Rome.

He added that they will go for necessary action if it deems appropriate.

According to the expatriate community, Rubel Matbar came to Italy through Libya four to five years ago. Later, he got legal documents from Italy. But police seized his legal documents for various immoral activities that made him an irregular immigrant.

Expatriate community said Rubel was involved in various misdeeds, including riots, during his stay in the Italian city of Calabria.  He moved to Napoli after police seized his papers.

Rubel Matbar, first hit the Italian policewoman with a stone in the head and then forcibly raped her near the parking lot inside the Pisacane gate of Napoli port on October 20, 2022.

Naples police arrested him for sexual violence and attempted murder. Rubel confessed to the crime, police told the local media.

The testimony of the victim policewoman and the police's immediate investigation revealed that after completing the night shift duty at the police station, the victim was on her way to the port, where she had parked the car in the reserved area.

Rubel started following her when she left the police station. At one point, she was suddenly attacked and raped by the accused. Rubel tried to strangle the victim.

The female police member had weapon with her, but did not have time to defend herself, as the attacker hit her quickly with a stone and threw her to the ground.

After an alarm was sent by the victim to colleagues, numerous vehicles were activated from the general resistance office of the police headquarters. Rubel was later tracked down and was arrested.

The victim policewoman was admitted to Antonio Cardarelli Hospital in Naples and was released yesterday morning (October 22, 2022).