A Dhaka Court on Sunday acquitted BNP Senior Vice-Chairman Tarique
Rahman in the much-talked-about money laundering case while his friend
Giasuddin Al Mamun was awarded seven years’ imprisonment with a fine
of Tk 40 crore in the case.
Judge Md Motahar Hossain of Dhaka’s Special Judge Court-3 passed the
order in his jam-packed court room at about 12 noon in presence of
Mamun while Tarique was shown fugitive in the case filed against the
duo.
Of the 37-pages’ verdict the Judge read only its order portion with a
brief introduction in 20 minutes.
This is the first verdict pronounced in a case filed against Tarique Rahman.
Mamun was brought to the court at 9.30 am and he was taken out of the
court at about one o’clock after the judgment was read out.
Among other things the verdict says that the total amount was
deposited to Mamun’s savings account No. 34450546 of Sonali Bank’s
Dhaka Cantonment Corporate Branch on June 7, 2007. Later, on July 31,
2007, the amount was deposited in Bangladesh Bank through check No.
6295121.
The court’s order includes forfeiture of the whole amount and it will
be treated as national asset.
The total period for which Mamun was kept in the jail in connection
with the case will be deducted from total prison term under Section
65A(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
Md Tarique Rahman was acquitted under Section 13 of the Money
Laundering Prevention Act 2002 as the charge was not proved against
him. While Mamun was convicted under Section 13(2) of the Money
Laundering Prevention Act as the charge was proved against him beyond
all reasonable doubts.
The court recorded the depositions of 13 prosecution witnesses, out
of 18 PWs including the complainant and a FBI Official. Besides, five
defense witnesses also testified in the case.
The case details say that the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) filed
the case against Tarique and Mamun with Dhaka Cantonment Police
Station on Oct 26, 2009, accusing the two of “siphoning off Tk 21.42
crore to Singapore” between 2003 and 2007.
On July 6, 2011, the ACC submitted the charge sheet against the accused.
The court framed money laundering charge against Tarique and also
issued an arrest warrant against him on August 8, 2011. However,
police could not arrest him as he has staying in London for medical
treatment.
According to the case statement, Mamun took Tk 204,125,843 from
Khadiza Islam, owner of Nirman Construction Ltd with a promise to give
her work of 80 Megawatt Power Station in Tongi.
As Tarique was shown as a fugitive no lawyer was allowed to conduct
the case on his behalf. Therefore he obtained acquittal without
engaging any lawyer to defend him in the court.
The deposition of the complainant was completed on October 8 and the
court fixed October 10 to cross-examine Mamun. Later, the court fixed
Nov 7 for hearing on the arguments, which ended on Thursday. The court
immediately fixed Nov 17 to pronounce the verdict.
While talking to the media men in the crowded Dhaka Judge Court
complex, Mamun’s lawyer and also the Vice Chairman of Bangladesh Bar
Council, Khandaker Mahbub Hossain said that Tarique Rahman was
implicated in the case to ruin his bright and potential political
career. He also said that Mamun also can not be convicted in the case
as there was no money laundering. He commented, one Khadiza Islam paid
Mamun the money as his consultancy fee in Singapore. The defence
lawyers said they will to appeal to the apex court against the verdict
to prove the innocence of Mamun in the case.
A large number of pro-opposition lawyers chanted different slogans in
side the complex hailing Tarique Rahman, while some angry pro-Awami
League lawyers also brought out a procession in the area. They chanted
slogans against Rahman and they were critical about ACC Prosecutor
Mosharraf Hossain Kajal and others.
After the pronouncement of the verdict Judge Motahar Hossain went on
four days’ leave. He is supposed to retire in December.
The security of the court complex and the area around it was beefed up
perhaps to avoid any untoward incidence on the occasion. – Court
Correspondent
