Staff Reporter :
The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday affirmed the High Court verdict that upheld a lower court judgement sentencing former Chief Conservator of Forest Osman Gani to 12 years’ imprisonment in a corruption case.
A three-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Justice Muhammad Imman Ali passed the order after dismissing an appeal filed by Osman Gani challenging the High Court verdict.
The High Court on December 15, 2015 upheld the lower court verdict that convicted and sentenced Osman Gani to 12 years’ imprisonment for amassing illegal wealth and concealing information in his wealth statement submitted to the Anti-Corruption Commission.
Earlier on June 5, 2008, Judge A K M Arifur Rahman of the Special Court-10 sentenced Gani to 12 years’ imprisonment.
Advocate A M Amin Uddin appeared in the court on behalf of Osman Gani and Advocate Munshi Moniruzzaman assisted him, while Advocate Khurshid Alam Khan stood for the Anti-Corruption Commission.
Advocate Khurshid Alam Khan said, “The Appellate Division dismissed the appeal filed by Osman Gani. So the sentence and fine awarded to him was remaining.”
Advocate A M Amin Uddin said, “After the SC order, the sentence given to Osman Gani is remaining. But he has already served the jail term. The leave to appeal petition was filed challenging the court’s order to confiscate his wealth.”
More than Taka 10 million was recovered from different parts of Gani’s government residence in 2007. He was arrested after it. The Anti-Corruption Commission lodged a case against Gani and his wife Mohsin Ara with Uttara Police Station on July 26, 2007.
