Staff Reporter :
The High Court on Tuesday mentioned Khandaker Mohtesam Hossain Babar, brother of former LGRD Minister Engineer Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, as the ‘mastermind and ringleader’ of laundering Tk 20 billion from the country.
The High Court bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Kazi Md Ejarul Haque Akondo made the comment while hearing a rule issued by it over bail of Mohtesam Hossain Babar in a case filed on charge of laundering Tk 20 billion.
Addressing the lawyer of Mohtesam Hossain Babar the court said, “You are the brother of a minister (former minister of LGRD). You have an influence. There is no department including the LGED where you have not tendered. You (Mohtesam Hossain Babar) are the mastermind behind the laundering of Tk 20 billion.”
The court also said, “Mohtesam is the mastermind and ringleader of the crime. He has given shelter to other accused persons and he was their mentor. The image of the government and the people of the country have been ruined for his role. Why should we grant bail to such an accused?”
At that time, the court also said, it will be proved in the trial whether you are guilty or not. But the document indicates primary elements of crime, added the court.
After concluding the hearing, the court discharged the rule for non-prosecution.
Lawyer Syed Mizanur Rahman appeared in the court on behalf of Mohtesam Hossain Babar, while deputy attorney general AKM Amin Uddin Manik represented the state.
Imtiaz Hasan Rubel, another accused, in his confessional statement said that the contracting business in Faridpur city was maintained through a syndicate of which Mohtesam Hossain Babar was the ringleader, said Deputy Attorney General Amin Uddin Manik citing the case documents.
Earlier on March 8 this year police arrested Khandaker Mohtesam Hossain Babar from the Bashundhara residential area of Dhaka in a money laundering case filed on charge of laundering Tk 20 billion. The Special Court-10 in Dhaka on April 17 this year rejected the bail petition filed by Mohtesam Hossain Babar. Then he moved the High Court.
Upon primary hearing on his petition, the High Court on May 17 issued a rule asking the state and Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) to explain in two weeks as to why Mohtesam should not be granted bail in this case.
After hearing on the rule the court on Tuesday discharged the rule for non-prosecution.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of police filed the case with Kafrul Police Station on June 26 in 2020. Later on 3 March in 2021, the CID submitted a charge sheet against 10 people, including Mohtesam, in the case.
