UNB, Dhaka :
The High Court on Sunday asked BNP senior vice-chairman Tarique Rahman to surrender before the trial court in connection with the money-laundering charges he was acquitted of.
After hearing the admissibility of an appeal filed by the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) challenging Tarique’s acquittal, an HC bench comprising Justice M Nizamul Haque and Justice M Jahangir Hossain also directed the lower court to grant him bail upon his surrender in the much-talked-about case.
The HC also directed the trial court to submit the records and documents of
the case to it. On November 17 last, a Special Judge Court of Dhaka acquitted the BNP senior vice-chairman and sentenced his business partner Giasuddin Al Mamun to seven years’ imprisonment in the case.
The court also fined Mamun Tk 40 crore. On December 5 last year, the ACC filed an appeal with the High Court seeking its order scrapping the lower court order against Tarique in the case.
Staying in London since September 2008 for treatment after securing bail in connection with over a dozen of criminal cases, including that of extortion, Tarique, also son of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, was tried in absentia as he remained fugitive during the whole trial period.
During the past military- backed caretaker government, the 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.
Giasuddin Al Mamun took Tk 204,125,843 from Khadiza Islam, a construction company owner, with a promise to give her work of 80 megawatt power station in Tongi. Mamun deposited the money at his Singapore bank account. Of the amount, Mamun spent US$79543.78 while Tarique US$ 54982.42.
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.
Before closing the trial, the Judge of the Special Judge’s Court-3 recorded the statements of 13 prosecution witnesses, including an USA FBI official and five defence witnesses.
After having the court clearance, the ACC had also sought Interpol’s help to arrest Tarique Rahman, but failed.
