Chittagong: A tribunal in Chittagong on Tuesday convicted four people and sentenced them to death for killing a minor boy after abduction in 2012.

The convicts are Anwar, 23, Faruk, 25, a human-hauler driver, Sujan, 23, hailing from Chandpur district, and Idris Mia, 28, an auto-rickshaw driver of Moulvibazar district.

Of the accused, Sujan went into hiding after securing bail from the lower court.

According to the prosecution, convict Faruk along with others kidnapped Yasir Arafat Abir, 5, son of Riaz Uddin, a resident of Halishahar area on 17 December 2012 in his bid to realise ransom from his father.

Later, they strangulated the boy on their way to Sitakunda at night and dumped the body near Salimpur Kalu Shah Shrine.

Police recovered Abir’s body from the spot the following day.

Reaz Uddin filed a case with Halisahar Police Station against his neighbour Faruk.

On 24 October 2012, police submitted a chargesheet against five people.

Later, police arrested the accused from different parts of Chandpur, Sylhet and Chittagong districts.

Public prosecutor Ayub Khan said the case was sent to the Speedy Trial Tribunal on 2 February 2014. Later, they made confessional statements before the court under section 164.

After examining records and witnesses, Speedy Trial Tribunal Judge Mahitul Haque Enam Chowdhury handed down the verdict and acquitted another accused, Rabeya, wife of Idris, as allegation brought against her could not be proved.