VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) - A member of a local human rights commission in Virginia has been convicted of physically abusing two of his children just months after being charged with trying to run down their mother with his car.
Rajeeb Islam, 40, received a suspended six-month sentence Friday for each account of assault and battery. He was also ordered to continue receiving counseling.
Islam is a member and former chairman of the Virginia Beach Human Rights Commission. He is also a former Virginia Beach Emergency Medical Services captain.
The Virginian-Pilot reports that the children were assaulted last July, eight months after Islam was charged with trying to hit his estranged wife with his car in November 2018.
A judge agreed last year to defer a ruling on the charges involving Islam’s wife on condition that he remain on good behavior for two years. Prosecutors now plan to try to have him found guilty in that case.
Islam’s children said he slapped and hit his 8-year-old son in the face because he had not cleaned his room, then attacked his 12-year-old sister after learning that she had texted photos of her injured brother to their mother, who contacted police.
Islam admitted in court to slapping his son once and pushing his daughter but said he didn’t use much force. His girlfriend testified that the children may have been injured from falling down while ice skating.
The children testified that they only went bowling, not ice skating.
The judge said she believed the children’s testimony over their father’s, adding that pictures of their injuries supported their version of events.
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