The Dhaka Special Judge’s Court-3 on Tuesday sentenced Bangladesh Nationalist Party leader Sadeque Hossain Khoka to 13-year rigorous imprisonment in a case for amassing wealth illegally and concealing information regarding wealth.
The BNP senior leader was tried in absentia.
Judge Abu Ahmed Jamadar handed down the punishment in two segments – ten years’ jail under Section 27 (1) of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2004 for making wealth through unfair means and three years’ jail under Section 26 (2) of the same law for concealing its information.
The court also fined Khoka Tk 10 lakh, in default, to serve six months more imprisonment and Tk one lakh, in default, to serve one month more imprisonment under section 27(1) and Section 26 (2) respectively of the commission act.
Both the tenure of imprisonment will be carried out at the same time, the court said.
It also ordered to confiscate the movable and unmovable assets of Khoka worth more than Tk 10.5 crore.
The court issued warrant of arrest for the former mayor.
Earlier, on April 2, 2008, assistant director of the commission, Shamsul Alam, had filed a graft case for accumulating illegal wealth worth Tk 10.50 crore against the former Dhaka City Corporation mayor, his wife Ismat Ara, daughter Sarika Sadeque and son Ishraf Hossain with Ramna police station, United News of Bangladesh reports.
On July 1 of the same year, Shamsul, also investigation officer of the case, had submitted charge sheet against Khoka and his wife.
However, the High Court had stayed the case proceedings against Ismat Ara.
The judge pronounced the verdict after examining all documents and statements of 40 witnesses.
The BNP senior leader was tried in absentia.
Judge Abu Ahmed Jamadar handed down the punishment in two segments – ten years’ jail under Section 27 (1) of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2004 for making wealth through unfair means and three years’ jail under Section 26 (2) of the same law for concealing its information.
The court also fined Khoka Tk 10 lakh, in default, to serve six months more imprisonment and Tk one lakh, in default, to serve one month more imprisonment under section 27(1) and Section 26 (2) respectively of the commission act.
Both the tenure of imprisonment will be carried out at the same time, the court said.
It also ordered to confiscate the movable and unmovable assets of Khoka worth more than Tk 10.5 crore.
The court issued warrant of arrest for the former mayor.
Earlier, on April 2, 2008, assistant director of the commission, Shamsul Alam, had filed a graft case for accumulating illegal wealth worth Tk 10.50 crore against the former Dhaka City Corporation mayor, his wife Ismat Ara, daughter Sarika Sadeque and son Ishraf Hossain with Ramna police station, United News of Bangladesh reports.
On July 1 of the same year, Shamsul, also investigation officer of the case, had submitted charge sheet against Khoka and his wife.
However, the High Court had stayed the case proceedings against Ismat Ara.
The judge pronounced the verdict after examining all documents and statements of 40 witnesses.
Source: New Age
