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Download PDF A Dhaka court yesterday sentenced former Awami League lawmaker Sheikh Helaluddin and his aide Munshi Saiduzzaman to seven years’ rigorous imprisonment for extorting Tk 1.02 crore from a construction firm owner.
Another Dhaka court, meantime, issued arrest warrants against AZM Zahid Hossain, former leader of Doctors’ Association of Bangladesh (DAB), his wife Rifat Hossain and Advocate Mujahidul Islam in a case filed for concealing information in his statement to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
HELAL JAILED
Judge Mohammad Shafiul Azam of Special Tribunal-12 gave the jail sentences to Helal and his assistant private secretary (APS) Munshi Saiduzzaman in their absence.
The court also fined the two Tk 1 lakh each, defaulting on which will earn them additional six months in jail. The punishment will be effective from the day of their arrest or surrender, the court said.
The judge acquitted Shaheen Chaklader, Khorshed Alam Prokash and AHM Kamal Hossain on the charges.
Earlier, the prosecution and the defence completed their arguments and the court recorded statements of 13 prosecution witnesses.
According to the prosecution, construction firm Reza Construction Ltd won a Tk 8.28 work order at Roads and Highways Department on May 8 in 2000. Aide Saiduzzaman demanded Tk 2 crore from the firm on Helal’s orders, threatening that the work order would otherwise be cancelled.
The firm later paid Helal and his APS Tk 1,02,40,000 in cash and by cheque on different dates from 2000 through 2006, the case statement said.
Mohammad Mamtaz Uddin filed the case with Shahbagh Police Station on May 21 last year. The investigation officer pressed charges against five people on July 3.
The former lawmaker is implicated in two more criminal cases.
CASE AGAINST ZAHID
Judge Mohammad Azizul Haq at Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court issued arrest warrants against Zahid, his wife and Mujahid after scrutinising the case docket and other relevant documents.
On February 7, Helal Uddin Sharif, assistant director of Anti-Corruption Commission and investigation officer of the case, submitted charge sheet against the three at Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court, Dhaka, showing 23 people as prosecution witnesses.
The IO prayed for warrants for their arrest and attachment of their property as they have been in hiding since the case was filed.
ACC Assistant Director Nasiruddin lodged the case with Ramna Police Station on October 3 last year, alleging that Zahid hid information on over Tk 2.12 crore. His wife Rifat and lawyer Mujahid were accused of helping him in the offence.
The court fixed tomorrow for next hearing of the case.
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