A Dhaka court on Sunday acquitted BNP senior vice-chairman Tarique Rahman and sentenced his business partner Giasuddin Al Mamun to seven years imprisonment in the much-talked-about money laundering case.
Judge of the Special Judge Court-3 Mohammad Motahar Hossain pronounced the verdict at 12:20 pm.
The court also fined Mamun Tk 40 crore.
Earlier, Tarique’s business partner Mamun was produced before the court in the morning. Mamun was arrested on March 26, 2007 and since then he remained behind the bars.
Staying in London since September 2008 for treatment after securing bail in connection with over a dozen of criminal cases, including extortion, Tarique, also son of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, was tried in absentia as he remained fugitive during the whole trial period.
Security was beefed up at the court premises in Old Dhaka and adjoining areas over the verdict.
During the past military- backed caretaker government, the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case on October 26, 2009 with Cantonment Police Station against accused Tarique and Mamun on charge of siphoning off Tk 20.41 crore to Singapore between 2003 and 2007.
The court framed charges against Tarique and Mamun on August 8, 2011.
The trial in the case began on September 11, 2011 with the deposition of complainant Mohammad Ibrahim, an ACC deputy director.
Source: UNBConnect
