PATERSON, NJ – An Islamic religious instructor has been charged after it is alleged that he sexually assaulted a child in their Paterson home.
Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Paterson Police Chief Ibrahim Baycora announce the pretrial detention of MD Rahman, 49, from Paterson, New Jersey. Mr. Rahman was arrested on August 25, 2021, after an investigation conducted by the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit.
On August 20, 2021, the Paterson Police Department contacted the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office on a report of a child being sexually abused. Thereafter, Prosecutor’s Office detectives interviewed the victim and multiple witnesses. The victim reported being sexually abused by Mr. Rahman on numerous occasions at the child’s home in Paterson between April 2014 and August 2021 while receiving religious instruction from him.
Shortly after Mr. Rahman’s arrest, the State filed a motion for pretrial detention. The detention hearing was held on September 1, 2021, before the Honorable Marybel Mercado-Ramirez, J.S.C. At the conclusion of the hearing Judge Ramirez granted the State’s motion for pretrial detention and Mr. Rahman will remain detained in the Passaic County Jail pending the disposition of the case.
Mr. Rahman is charged with one count of first degree Aggravated Sexual Assault, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2a(1), one count of second degree Sexual Assault, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:14- 2b, one count of third degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:24- 4a(1), one count of third degree Terroristic Threats, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-3b, one count of third degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4a(2), one count of third degree Aggravated Assault, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(7), and one count of second degree Hindering Apprehension, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:29-3b(3).