Tarique, Mamun acquitted in money laundering case
Staff Reporter :
In a money laundering case filed for alleged financial transactions in Singapore, the Supreme Court’s Appellate Division has acquitted BNP’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman and businessman Giasuddin Al Mamun.
The verdict was delivered on Thursday by a bench of the Appellate Division led by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed.
Senior lawyers SM Shahjahan, Barrister Sheikh Mohammad Zakir Hossain, Advocate Maksud Ullah, Advocate Zakir Hossain, Advocate Shamsul Islam Mukul, and Advocate Azmal Hossain Khokon represented Tarique Rahman and Mamun in the court.
Advocate Asif Hossain appeared on behalf of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
Earlier, after hearing the appeal on Tuesday, the Appellate Division bench, under Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, set the date for the judgment on March 6.
On December 10 of the previous year, the Supreme Court’s Appellate Division had granted permission for the appeal following an application by Giasuddin Al Mamun. The sentence was also stayed at that time.
The case was filed by the ACC on October 26, 2009, at the Cantonment Police Station.
On July 6, 2010, Tarique Rahman and Giasuddin Al Mamun were formally charged in the case. The court framed charges against them on August 8, 2011.
The case involved 13 witnesses, including an FBI agent, Deborah Leprovette, who testified outside the charge sheet.
The allegations in the case were that Giasuddin Mamun had received Tk 20 crore 41 lakh 25 thousand and 843 from Khadija Islam, chairperson of a construction company, to secure a contract for an 80-MW power plant in Tongi.
This transaction took place in Singapore. Mamun later deposited the money with his personal bank account at Citi Bank in Singapore’s Capital Street.
It was alleged that Tarique Rahman had spent Tk 3 crore 78 lakh from this amount.
In November 2013, the Third Special Judge Court of Dhaka acquitted Tarique Rahman but sentenced Giasuddin Al Mamun to seven years in prison in the money laundering case.
The court also fined Mamun Tk 40 crore and ordered the confiscation of Tk 20 crore 41 lakh 25 thousand and 613 in favor of the state.
The ACC appealed against the verdict on December 5, 2013, and on January 19, 2014, the Appellate Division agreed to hear the appeal. Giasuddin Mamun also filed an appeal.
After hearings, the High Court sentenced Tarique Rahman to seven years in prison and fined him Tk 20 crore on July 21, 2016.
Mamun’s seven-year sentence was upheld by the High Court bench, consisting of Justices M. Inayetur Rahim and Amir Hossain. Mamun appealed against this decision in the Appellate Division.
In a significant development, the Appellate Division has now acquitted both Tarique Rahman and Giasuddin Al Mamun, giving a favorable ruling to them in the money laundering case.