HC scraps Tarique acquittal
Part of the plot to destroy Zia family: BNP
Staff Reporter
The High Court (HC) yesterday sentenced BNP senior vice-chairman Tarique Rahman to seven-year imprisonment and slapped a fine of Tk. 20.41 crore on him after quashing a trial court verdict that had acquitted him in a money-laundering case.
However, the HC upheld the trial court verdict that had sentenced Giasuddin Al Mamun, friend and business partner of Rahman, to seven-year imprisonment for the same offence. The HC bench commuted Mamuns previous fine amount of Tk. 40 crore to Tk. 20.41 crore, which is equal to Rahmans fine amount. The HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Amir Hossain sentenced Rahman, 48, for siphoning off money to Singapore between 2003 and 2007, when the BNP-led government was in power. It directed the lower court to issue a conviction warrant against Rahman.
Since the convict, Md Tarique Rahman, is absconding, the sentence of imprisonment as awarded shall be executed after his arrest or when he surrenders before the trial court, the HC verdict reads.
The HC bench also directed the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to take necessary legal steps i to prosecute Md Moyazzam Hosen, chairman of Hosaf Group, Khadiza Islam, chairman of Nirman Construction, Mayer Sairee and Merina Jaman, who allegedly aided the convicts in gaining the laundered money.
The court said the laundered money, Tk. 20 crore, would be kept in Bangladesh Bank until the fine is realized.
This kind of corruption being backed by political influence threatens good governance, sustainable development, and democratic process, the court observed in its verdict.
Society should wake up to condemn and prevent political patronisation in accomplishing such organised financial crimes, as they affect the countrys economy and development, it noted.
Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokan, counsel for Rahman, said they were taken aback by the verdict. Were astonished and shocked. Tarique was not involved in money laundering, he claimed.
He also said that Mamun would appeal against the HC verdict. Well place our argument on behalf of Tarique during the hearing of Mamuns appeal, he added.
Whether the verdict on Rahman would be challenged will be decided later as he is abroad, said another defence counsel, Md Jalaluddin.
On the other hand, ACC counsel Khurshid Alam Khan said Rahman has to surrender before filing an appeal. He has to turn himself in first. He will get 30 days to challenge the verdict, he added.
The ACC had filed a case against Rahman and Mamun in October 2009, alleging that they had siphoned off money to Singapore between 2003 and 2007.
On November 17, 2013, a Dhaka court acquitted Rahman and sentenced Mamun to seven years imprisonment, and also imposed a fine of Tk. 40 crore in the case. On December 5 that year, the ACC appealed to the HC against Rahmans acquittal.
The HC on January 19, 2014, asked the lower court to send the case records and ordered Rahman to surrender before the trial court. The HC, however, asked the trial court to grant him bail after his surrender.
This case is one of 16, including one on the August 21 grenade attack, filed against Rahman. He was arrested on March 7, 2007, during a crackdown by a military-backed caretaker government. Out on parole, Rahman went to London in September 2008 for treatment and has been living there ever since. Mamun is now in jail.
Meanwhile, BNP yesterday alleged that the revoking of acquittal of its senior vice-chairman Tarique Rahman in a money-laundering case is aimed at destroying the Zia family and weakening the nationalist forces.
The lower court had acquitted Tarique Rahman in the case as there was no evidence regarding Tarique Rahmans involvement in money laundering, but the government appealed against the verdict by its subservient Anti Corruption Commission to have its desire and political vengeance fulfilled, said BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.
We think its (Tariques acquittal scarping) part of a government blueprint to destroy the Zia family and the nationalist forces, he further said.
The BNP leader came up with the allegation at a press briefing at BNPs Nayapaltan central office.
Earlier in the day, the High Court sentenced BNP senior vice-chairman Tarique Rahman to seven years jail and fined him Tk 20 crore scrapping his acquittal in the money-laundering case.
On November 17, 2013, a Dhaka court acquitted Tarique while sentenced his friend and business partner Giasuddin Al Mamuno to seven years along with a fine of Tk 40 crore in the ACC case for illegally sending Tk20.41 crore to Singapore between 2003 and 2007.
Rizvi said their senior vice chairman was punished to create a new issue to divert peoples attention to a different direction from the governments failure and militancy.
He said the 1/11 regime had filed the money laundering case against Tarique illegally as part of a conspiracy.
The BNP leader alleged that the High Court did not take into cognizance the documents and evidence on which Tarique had been acquitted by the trial court. The judicial norms have not been applied here.
Rizvi said they expect justice from the apex court in the case against Tarique. We hope the Supreme Court will widen the scope for having justice. Peoples confidence in the judiciary will increase if they get justice from court which is their last resort.
He also protested the arrest of their party leaders and activists from Nayapaltan area following the verdict, and demanded that they be released immediately.
