Dhaka, Jan 22 – The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld the High Court verdict that upheld a lower court judgement sentencing former Chief Conservator of Forest Osman Gani to 12 years’ imprisonment in a corruption case. A three-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Justice M Imaan Ali passed the order after dismissing an appeal filed by Osman Gani challenging the High Court verdict.
The High Court on December 15, 2015, upheld the lower court order that sentenced top forest gobbler Osman Gani to 12 years’ imprisonment in a graft case.
The HC bench comprising Justice Md Ruhul Quddus and Justice Bhishmadev Chakrabortty passed the order rejecting a petition filed by Osman Gani.
On June 5, 2008, Judge AKM Arifur Rahman of Dhaka’s Special Judge Court-10 sentenced former chief conservator of forest Osman Gani, caught for minting money out of country's forest resources, to 12 years’ rigorous imprisonment in the case filed for amassing wealth illegally and concealing information in the wealth statement.
The court also fined him Tk 10 lakh, in default, to suffer one year more in rigorous imprisonment.
Besides, the court sentenced Mohsin Ara, wife of Osman Gani, to three years imprisonment for abetting her husband in the crime.
On May 29, 2007, a joint forces team in a drive at Gani’s Uttara residence seized Tk 99,89,600 in cash, 1300 US Dollars, 3,000 Malaysian Ringgit and huge gold ornaments, kept in different places of the house.
Golam Shahriar Chowdhury, deputy director of ACC, filed a case with Uttara Police Station on July 26 on the charge of amassing a wealth of Tk 4.97 crore and concealing information of Tk 1.2 crore in this wealth statement. – Staff Reporter
