Manju jailed for 5yrs for possessing liquor

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A Dhaka court yesterday sentenced Jatiya Party (Manju) Chairman Anwar Hossain Manju to five years’ simple imprisonment and fined Tk 10,000 for possessing 21 bottles of contraband liquor at his Dhanmondi residence.

Judge Sayed Jahed Mansur of the Metropolitan Special Tribunal-9 handed down the sentence in Manju’s absence at 11.45am at a packed courtroom.

This is the first time a former lawmaker, also an ex-communications minister, was convicted for possessing unlicensed liquids and wine at his residence.

The judge also fined Manju Tk 10,000 and if he failed to pay the fine he will have to serve six-month more simple imprisonment in jail.

The punishment will be effective from the day of his arrest or surrender, the judge said.

Before delivery of the verdict, Manju’s lawyers submitted a petition seeking adjournment of the judgement and recall of seven prosecution witnesses, as they could not cross them in Manju’s absence.

Moreover, Manju is now abroad for his treatment. The prosecution opposed it and prayed for delivery of the verdict.

After hearing both the sides, the judge rejected the petition, as there was no scope for filing of a petition on behalf of an absconding accused at this stage and delivered the judgement.

In his judgement, the judge said the prosecution had proved the charges brought against Manju beyond any doubt and he was convicted for committing such offences.

The judge said the accused being an ex-lawmaker violated the law by keeping unlicensed foreign liquid and wine in his possession and deserves maximum punishment provided under section 22(Ga) of the Narcotics Control Act.

So, the sentence of five years’ is lawful for ends of justice, the judge added.

The joint forces arrested Manju from his Dhanmondi residence on March 12 midnight and seized 21 bottles of contraband liquor and Tk 9.10 lakh from there in presence of his wife.

But his wife could not show any document in support of possessing liquid and wine at their residence.

Following the seizure, Sub-Inspector (SI) SM Mostaque Hossain filed a case against Manju on March 12. On May 14, SI Amirul Islam, who is also the investigation officer (IO) of the case, submitted the charge sheet to the court of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM), Dhaka showing nine people as prosecution witnesses.

The CMM Court had accepted the charge sheet and did not issue arrest warrant against Manju, even though his bail was valid till filing of the charge sheet.

The CMM Court had transferred the case to the Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court for trial.

Earlier, the court had recorded statements of seven prosecution witnesses including the complainant and the IO.

On June 3, the same court framed charges against Manju in his absence and issued arrest warrant against him.

Before the order, the court had asked Manju to appear before the court to defend himself but he failed to oblige the court order. So, the court had cancelled his bail.

Metropolitan Public Prosecutor Ehsanul Haq Samaji appeared for the state.

MANJU’S GRAFT CASE
There is a graft case against Manju pending with the Special Court for Dhaka Division.

The case was filed for illegally awarding a contract to Scimitar Oils for drilling and exploring at Haripur oil field in 1987. Ershad was discharged of the same case on August 24 last year.

According to the case filed with Tejgaon Police Station Manju and the then president Ershad awarded a contract to Scimitar Oils for drilling and exploring 1,650 square kilometres of area in Haripur oil field in 1987, causing a huge loss of $79,000 to the public exchequer.

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