Staff Reporter :
The High Court on Monday directed the concerned bodies of the government to carry out an audit into the fined-money realized by the Mobile Courts across the country every year.
It also asked the authorities concerned to monitor whether the fined-money realized by the Mobile Courts across the country are being properly deposited with the state exchequer.
The deputy commissioners of the 64 districts and concerned magistrates who conduct the Mobile Courts have been directed to comply with the direction.
The High Court bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Kazi Md Ejarul Haque Akondo passed the order while delivering a verdict on an appeal petition filed by two officials of a Mobile Court
in Shariatpur district against their sentence given by a trial court on charge of embezzling fined money.
Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin Manik who appeared in the court hearing on behalf of the state said, “A total of 754 Mobile Courts were conducted in Shariatpur district during the period of 2010 to 2015. The Mobile Courts fined and realized Tk 10.08 million during this period which was not deposited with the government exchequer.”
“An official of the concerned Mobile Court, Imam Uddin, embezzled the money by making forged documents which was identified during a probe. His wife, Kamala Akter who is also an official of the same Mobile Court, associated him in embezzling the money.”
Later the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed a case against them. In September 2018, the Special Judge’s Court in Faridpur sentenced Imam Uddin to a total of 28 years imprisonment for five charges and his wife Kamala Akter to eight years imprisonment. They later appealed to the High Court against the sentences.
After hearing the appeal petition filed by Imam Uddin and his wife the High Court on Monday upheld sentence of Imam Uddin and acquitted his wife.
Barrister Tapos Kanit Baul appeared in the court on behalf of the appellants while Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin Manik represented the state.
Barrister Tapos Kanit Baul said trail court gave a total 28 years imprisonment to Imam Uddin. But he has to suffer a period of highest 10 years imprisonment as the sentences of different charges will continue jointly, added the lawyer.
