Khaleda Zia's son is sentenced 7 years for money laundering

[Riyad]

Home > Bangladesh
High Court orders seven-year jail term for BNP leader Tarique Rahman in money laundering case
Senior Correspondent, bdnews24.com

Published: 2016-07-21 11:08:40.0 BdST Updated: 2016-07-21 13:41:55.0 BdST

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  BNP's Senior Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman is in London and has not returned to Bangladesh since he left the country ostensibly for medical treatment. File photo
  

The High Court has overturned a trial court’s verdict that acquitted BNP leader Tarique Rahman from money laundering charges.

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It ordered seven years in prison for him and slapped a Tk 200 million fine.

The bench of justices M Enayetur Rahim and Amir Hossain gave its decision on Thursday on an appeal by the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC).

In November 2013, a Dhaka court acquitted Tarique, the elder son of BNP chief Khaleda Zia, over charges brought against him for siphoning off Tk 204.1 million to Singapore between 2003 and 2007.

But his close business associate Giasuddin-Al-Mamun was sentenced to seven years in prison and fined Tk 400 million.

Mamun also challenged the verdict. The High Court on Thursday upheld his prison term but commuted the financial penalty to Tk 200 million.

• In October 2009, the ACC filed the case with the Dhaka Cantonment Police Station against Tarique and Mamun.

• The ACC submitted the charge-sheet against them at the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court in July 2010.

• Mamun took Tk 204.1 million as bribes from Khadiza Islam, Director of Nirman Construction Ltd, promising the contract for building a 80MW power plant at Tongi.

• Mamun deposited the money in the Capital Street Branch of Singapore’s City Bank, from where Tarique withdrew Tk 30.78 million.

• In August 2012, the court indicted the duo under the Money Laundering Act 2002 and issued an arrest warrant for Tarique.

‘It’s a financial crime’

The trial court’s verdict said that Tarique did not deny spending that money, which he had stated in his wealth statement submitted to the ACC in 2007.

It said that the charges of money laundering against him have not been proven.

On Thursday, the High Court overturned the verdict and observed it as ‘financial crime.’

It said that money laundering hinders sustainable economic development of the country.

“It’s time to stop such crimes,” the High Court said in its verdict.

Tarique’s counsel Mahbubuddin Khokon said that they were taken aback by the verdict. “We are astonished and shocked.”

He said that Tarique’s associate Mamun will appeal against the decision.

The matter of challenging the verdict of Tarique will be decided later since he is abroad, said another defence counsel Md Jalaluddin.

“We will decide on the next step after consulting Tarique,” he said.

ACC counsel Khurshid Alam Khan, however, said that Tarique has to surrender before filing an appeal. “He has to turn himself in first. He will get 30 days to challenge the verdict.”

In his reaction over the verdict, Khan said that it once again endorsed that no one is above the law.

“The court said that it’s now time to rethink these matters as power and money laundering is linked.”

Tarique, who faces trial for several charges, was arrested on Mar 7, 2007, during the state of emergency.

In September next year, after securing a bail from the Supreme Court, Tarique went to the UK citing medical reasons.

He has been in London ever since, even attending some BNP events in the city.

http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2016...eader-tarique-rahman-in-money-laundering-case

 

[bluesky]

I personally dislike Tareque because he single-handedly destroyed the reputation of President Zia, his father and PM Begum Zia, his mother. He also destroyed BNP by not nurturing and neglecting the BNP party workers, who were found nowhere during the 2008 general election.

However, this verdict against him is completely a political ploy by the ruling AL govt so that he cannot re-enter the country and re-enter politics. I would not like him to become any govt. leader, but, I fully condemn this political decision.

 

[Nilgiri]

@Bilal9 Your views?

 

[Riyad]

I personally dislike Tareque because he single-handedly destroyed the reputation of President Zia, his father and PM Begum Zia, his mother. He also destroyed BNP by not nurturing and neglecting the BNP party workers, who were found nowhere during the 2008 general election.

However, this verdict against him is completely a political ploy by the ruling AL govt so that he cannot re-enter the country and re-enter politics. I would not like him to become any govt. leader, but, I fully condemn this political decision.

I agree Zia had some reputation, may be still does to a certain section but when did Khaleda Zia have any reputation? She was the godmother of all extremism in Bangladesh during her last tenure. She never had any reputation apart from being 'uncompromising' leader during 1990 but she herself destroyed that so called reputation by her own silly acts. She has always been a lady with questionable character. She had an 'alleged' affair with Pakistani army officer Janjua in 1971, She never demanded a trial of her husband Zia's killers who at one time refused to take her home after knowing her relationship with that Pak army officer. Later she developed an arch-rivalry with Indian counterparts. Being Pakistan friendly in all her political career. Most heinous crime was allying with war criminals. She has always been a controversial politician.

 

[Al-zakir]

Badjaat Hasina has only one option.

1-Stay in control of the nation by all means nessasary.

Any deveation from option 1 means immediate elimination from scene.

Let's see how long she last.

 

[bluesky]

21 Jul 2016, 23:54:00

‘Govt to bring Tarique back through Interpol’


Law Minister Anisul Haq said on Thursday Tarique Rahman will be brought back home through the Interpol for executing the High Court (HC) verdict pronounced against him, reports UNB.


"New agreement will be signed between the two countries (UK and Bangladesh) for bringing him back to the country, if needed," he said while talking to reporters at his ministry about the verdict.

The minister said they will soon collect the certified copy of the verdict and legal steps will be taken after that for executing it. "A letter will be sent to the Home Ministry in this regard."

Talking about Tarique Rahman's case, Anisul said, "Tarique Rahman had been acquitted by a lower court. Later, the ACC filed a petition against the verdict and the hearing was carried out as per rules. Tarique didn't surrender despite repeated orders."

Besides, the Judge who had pronounced the order in the case acquitting Tarique Rahman fled to Malaysia with his family two days after the announcement of the verdict, he said.

Besides, the Judge who had pronounced the order in the case acquitting Tarique Rahman fled to Malaysia with his family two days after the announcement of the verdict, he said.

This roves how nasty the Hasina culture is in BD. No one is safe from her dictatorship. The lower Court Judge had to leave BD only to save himself and his family from being hacked to death by the BAL hooligans. BD must get rid of this tyrant Hasina and her BAL party.

I believe, Tareque will seek political asylum in London.

 

[Bilal9]

@Bilal9 Your views?

My opinions are my opinions - nothing more and nothing less.

That being said - I have to say Tareque has been a royal embarrassment to his father's ideals, to the Bangladeshi expectations as a qualified leader (even as an uneducated goonda sort of a leader). He is sorely lacking in having a vision, any savvy media moves or on any method to salvage his party's horrible reputation, much less his own and his mother's.

He is a scion of an almost faded political dynasty - this much is true. But he scores far lower in any perceived qualification to lead than Sheikh Hasina's son Joy and even less qualified than that other subcontinental scion embarrassment, Rahul Gandhi.

And dynastic politics is now gone from desi politics. People are far too politically savvy to tolerate it, even ricksha-wallas.

So this politically-motivated lawsuit wasn't even needed, it's just the final nail in the coffin.

I was once a BNP supporter, but no longer....

But I wouldn't discount him as of yet. Stranger things have happened. This is Bangladesh after all....

 

[Nilgiri]

And dynastic politics is now gone from desi politics. People are far too politically savvy to tolerate it, even ricksha-wallas.

But what non-dynasty merit based parties are being formed in Bangladesh that can challenge BAL and BNP?

The last I heard was the one Yunus saab attempted to start before it was shot down by SHW.

 

[Bilal9]

But what non-dynasty merit based parties are being formed in Bangladesh that can challenge BAL and BNP?

The last I heard was the one Yunus saab attempted to start before it was shot down by SHW.

You're right. As of now it is one party rule (for good or bad) and Awami league is its name.

Actually if Hasina does the right things, people will have less to complain about and won't really want a different option. But SHW has to ease off on oppressing the opposition. However I said 'opposition' and not 'rioters/terrorists/anarchists'.

People want a full belly, clothes and a place to live.....

 

[bongbang]

If Tarique didnt leave RAB commander job, he could easily slip away I suppose

 

[kobiraaz]

But what non-dynasty merit based parties are being formed in Bangladesh that can challenge BAL and BNP?

The last I heard was the one Yunus saab attempted to start before it was shot down by SHW.

No. The dynasty politics isn't dead, not in BD at least. No one will be able to challenge Mujib or Zia family in Bangladesh in near future. Yes Zia dynasty is in exile and Mujib dynasty is in power. However There is no 3rd option.

Zia Ur Rahman was the last or maybe the only honest Politician of BD. After ruling the country single handedly for Six years, when he died his family had no money. Yes he is criticized for heavily suppressing military dissidents. But countrymen were on his side kinda like Today's Erdogan.

This is why much was expected from his son Tareq, who unfortunately decided to follow corrupt Military dictator Ershad but not his father.

Both Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina are very capable leaders. Joy, Hasina's son and heir can't even speak properly and is widely seen as incapable to lead by the majority of people while Tareq, Zia's son is experienced but corrupted.

To counter this, Begum Zia's plan is to introduce Tareq's wife ( a doctor) as the next nationalist leader.

I don't know what Sheikh Hasina thinks. She is most probably trying to nullify all threats forever, so his son can inherit the leadership after her death and rule easily.

 

[Nilgiri]

I don't know what Sheikh Hasina thinks. She is most probably trying to nullify all threats forever, so his son can inherit the leadership after her death and rule easily.

Seems that way. Like a mafia power play but for an entire country. Quite shameful that Bangladesh has to inherit this and live with it when there are obviously more talented merited people out there to lead things.

 

[bongbang]

BD should just for good come out of this vicious cycle of female top leaderships. Should choose male leaderships from clean corruption/crime free background who has good education and already made global presence through entrepreneurship on his own and experience in assisting gov in massive scale.

 

[Nilgiri]

BD should just for good come out of this vicious cycle of female top leaderships. Should choose male leaderships from clean corruption/crime free background who has good education and already made global presence through entrepreneurship on his own and experience in assisting gov in massive scale.

What are your thoughts on Yunus being given a chance to be Bangladesh leader?

Do you have any other notables in mind btw?

 

[bongbang]

What are your thoughts on Yunus being given a chance to be Bangladesh leader?

Do you have any other notables in mind btw?

I think people without political background isn't that good choice. He can take a BAL ticket and I see him at best finance minister of BD. Read my above para and keep in mind joy you may get a clue.