Grisly discovery of body in a suitcase by the Thames – husband is convicted

A man has been convicted of murdering his wife after the Met’s homicide detectives proved he killed her and tried to cover up the crime.

The body of victim Suma Begum – a mum of two – was discovered in a suitcase by a member of the public on a river bank in Thamesmead on May 10 last year.

Aminan Rahman, 46, of Bridgewater, Somerset was found guilty of the murder of 24-year-old Suma Begum today (Wednesday) after a month-long trial at the Old Bailey.

Videos saved by Shahin Miah, the man who is believed to have been in the relationship with Suma, and who lived in the United Arab Emirates, showed Rahman threatening to kill his wife and then putting his hands around her throat.

The video cut off after he heard “screaming sounds”. Rahman then called back and told him he had killed his wife and showed her unconscious on the floor. It is thought the couple’s two children may have witnessed the horrifying murder.

Rahman, who was living an east London flat at the time with his wife, then put her body into a suitcase which he threw into the River Lea – a Thames tributary.

Police were called the next day after Suma’s friends and family members became concerned for her welfare.

Rahman was arrested on May 2 last year and claimed he did not know where she was or what had happened to her. He was then charged with murder two days later.

Detective Chief Inspector Kelly Allen, the lead investigator in the case, said: “Once Aminan Rahman was swiftly identified as the prime suspect, my team of homicide detectives analysed hundreds of hours of CCTV to trace his movements before and after the murder.

“We also managed to retrieve and download the full video call that Rahman made to Suma’s believed boyfriend. This further proved he killed her in a jealous rage.

“This has been a challenging case and Suma’s family and friends have had to endure a trial in which they heard graphic details of how her body was hidden by her husband.”

Rahman was also convicted of assaulting Suma on February 6, 2023. She had made a video in which she said Rahman had almost killed her by putting his hands around her neck.

Rahman is due to be sentenced at the Old Bailey on Wednesday, July 31.

Pictured top: Suma Begum (Picture: The Met)