Ex-NBR member Sarwar gets 8yrs

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An anti-graft court yesterday sentenced former National Board of Revenue member ATM Sarwar Hossain to eight years’ imprisonment in the first ever case against an NBR member in connection with tax offences.

Meanwhile, judgement in the graft case against detained ex-BNP lawmaker Manjurul Ahsan Munshi, his wife and two sons, supposed to be given yesterday, will now be given on September 30.

The judgement could not be delivered yesterday as Judge Ashraf Hossain of the Fifth Special Court fell sick.

Sarwar, who is absconding, was sentenced for committing two offences under two different sections of the Income Tax Ordinance of 1984.

Judge Amar Kumar Roy of the Second Special Court at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar MP Hostel also fined Sarwar Tk 1.20 lakh, in default he would have to serve jail term for six more months.

The court also ordered confiscation of Sarwar’s properties and wealth worth Tk 4,31,90,106 about which he concealed information in his tax returns for different tax years.

“None is above the law. Sarwar committed the offence when he was an NBR member and was aware of rules and laws. This is the first ever case against an NBR member and the judgement given is also the first,” said Syed Shamim Ahsan Habib, public prosecutor.

The former NBR member was handed down three years’ simple imprisonment under Section 165 of the income tax ordinance for giving false information, and five years’ rigorous imprisonment under Section 166 of the ordinance for concealing information about wealth.

Sarwar however will have to serve five years’ jail term as both the sentences will run concurrently.

His jail term will begin from the day of his surrender or arrest.

Rabiul Hasan Pradhan, deputy tax commissioner of the NBR, filed the case with a senior special judge’s court on August 15 this year.

In the case statement, the complainant said that in different tax years from 2000-2001 to 2006-2007, Sarwar concealed information involving about Tk 4,31,90,106 in his tax returns and thereby dodged tax on the concealed amount.

Charges were framed against the former NBR member on September 13 while deposition of witnesses began on September 17. Five witnesses gave their deposition in the case.

Sarwar is one of the 50 influential political leaders, businessmen and former bureaucrats listed for the second phase of the joint forces’ anti-corruption drive.

Case against Manjurul Ahsan and his family

On March 27, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case with Gulshan Police Station against Manjurul Ahsan, his wife Mazeda Ahsan and their sons Rizviul Ahsan and Rezwanul Ahsan for submitting “false” statement of wealth to the watchdog.

On June 27, the ACC submitted charge sheet to the court accusing them of amassing wealth worth over Tk 5.37 crore through “illegal means”.

Meanwhile, verdict in the tax evasion case against the wife of detained Awami League Joint General Secretary Obaidul Quader Isratunnessa will be given on September 25.

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