A special court in Dhaka yesterday sentenced Shafiur Rahman Babu, absconding younger son of former finance minister M Saifur Rahman, to 13 years’ rigorous imprisonment (RI) in a corruption case.
Special Court-4 Judge Jesmin Anwar found Babu guilty of amassing Tk 13.85 crore through illegal means and concealing information of wealth worth Tk 1.2 crore to Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
Of the total ill-gotten wealth, Babu accumulated wealth worth over Tk 6,24,61,292 illegally and amassed Tk 7,60,31,000 beyond his real source of income. He had also concealed wealth information of Tk 1,27,94,453 to the ACC.
Babu was also fined Tk 15 lakh in default of which he will have to serve two and a half years’ jail term more. The court also ordered the illegally amassed wealth to be confiscated.
He was jailed for three years and fined Tk five lakh for hiding wealth information and another 10 years with a fine of Tk 10 lakh for amassing illegal wealth. The punishment would run consecutively.
The ACC served a notice upon Babu to submit his wealth statement on October 18, 2007, but he sent a letter by post from Malaysia instead.
The court earlier recorded statements of 21 prosecution witnesses, including complainant of the case.
An advertisement was also published asking Babu to surrender before the court to face trial, but he did not comply with the court order.
Earlier, the court had also issued an arrest warrant against Babu and ordered to attach his properties.
The court handed down the sentence in his absence and his punishment would take effect from the day he is arrested or surrenders to the court.
ACC Assistant Director Farid Ahmed Patwary, also the investigation officer (IO) of the case, submitted the charge sheet before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court of Dhaka, showing 39 people as prosecution witnesses November 2 last year.
ACC Deputy Director Sharmin Ferdousy filed the case against Babu with Ramna Police Station on April 29 last year.
Special Public Prosecutor Syed Mizanur Rahman represented the state before the court.
Categories: Bangla, Bangladesh, Bangladesh News, Bangladesh Politics, Daily Bangladesh News, News, Politics
