A chef who strangled his wife and threw her body into the River Thames in a suitcase after discovering her affair on TikTok has been sentenced to a minimum of 22 years in prison.

Aminan Rahman, 46, murdered his 24-year-old wife, Suma Begum, at their flat in Docklands, East London. The crime was committed in front of their two young children and witnessed over a video call by Ms Begum’s lover, Shahin Miah, 24.

During the attack, Rahman was heard shouting at Mr Miah, “Because of you this has happened,” before cramming Ms Begum’s lifeless body into a suitcase and throwing it into the River Lea. The body was discovered ten days later by mudlarks on the banks of the Thames.

The court heard how Rahman had taken his two-year-old son with him when he disposed of the body. The child, unaware of the gravity of the situation, thought it was a game and climbed under a blanket with his deceased mother.

Rahman was arrested after fleeing to Bournemouth, leaving his children with relatives. The judge, Mr. Justice Bennathan, described Ms Begum as “a lively, attractive young woman and a devoted mother” whose dreams were tragically cut short by Rahman’s actions.

In a victim impact statement, Ms. Begum’s half-brother Abdul Amin said: “Suma wanted to tell us about how Aminan was abusing her, but he threatened to kill her if she did. He has deprived their children of the childhood they should have had.

The court heard that Ms Begum had moved to the UK in 2020 after marrying Rahman in an arranged marriage conducted over the phone. The relationship had soured, and Ms Begum had started a relationship with Mr Miah, who lived in Abu Dhabi. This affair was openly documented on her TikTok account.

Rahman, described by his barrister as having “genuine love” for his wife, claimed he accidentally strangled her while defending their children from her. He admitted to preventing a lawful burial by disposing of her body.

Detective Constable Karen Douglas of Northumbria Police’s safeguarding department praised the victim’s bravery in coming forward and condemned Rahman’s actions as “cold and careless.” She emphasized that support is available for victims of abuse and urged anyone affected to seek help.

Rahman was found guilty of murder and assault, with a life sentence handed down, requiring him to serve a minimum of 22 years. The case highlights the severe consequences of domestic violence and the importance of support systems for those affected.