The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Absconding Orion Group chairman Obaidul Karim was awarded life sentence for embezzling Tk 6.70 crore of Oriental Bank Limited by a special court yesterday.

The court also fined him Tk 6.70 crore. In default, he will have to serve another two years of rigorous imprisonment.

At the same time, the court also ordered seizing of the bank guarantee submitted by Obaidul Karim in his name in favour of Belhasa Accom JV, the construction firm responsible for constructing the Jatrabari-Gulistan Flyover.

Judge Mohammad Firoze Alam of the Special Judge Court-1 at Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban complex pronounced the verdict yesterday morning.

Other four of the five accused of the case---Oriental Bank's principal branch's senior vice-president Shah Mohammad Harun, senior vice president Abul Kashem Mahmud Ullah, assistant vice president AKM Neyamat Ullah and former assistant vice president Mohammad Fazlur Rahman-were given three years of rigorous imprisonment and fined Tk 50,000 each, in default, they will have to suffer more three months of imprisonment.

Besides, ANM Raqibul Islam, executive officer of the principal branch of Oriental Bank Ltd, was awarded one year's rigorous imprisonment and fined Tk 10,000. In default, he will have to suffer another one month of imprisonment.

Raqibul Islam surrendered to the court on October 23 last, while the rest of the convicts are still at large.

Assistant Director of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Abdul Latif filed the case with the city's Motijheel Police Station on February 1 last accusing Obaidul Karim and four others.

In the case, the plaintiff mentioned that under active cooperation of Oriental Bank's principal branch's senior vice president Shah Mohammad Harun and other accused, Obaidul Karim opened a false account with that branch in the fake name of one Belal Hossain. Later, Tk 6.70 crore were deposited to that account from the Islampur branch of Oriental Bank Ltd through an inter-branch debit advice. Afterward, the convicts embezzled the entire amount withdrawing from the account.

After investigating into the case, ACC's assistant director Md Rafiquzzaman submitted a chargesheet to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate court accusing two more persons. The charge of the case was framed at the Special Judge Court-1 at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban complex on October 31.

Recording the depositions of the witnesses started on November 8. After recording the depositions of 12 witnesses the verdict was announced yesterday.

Meanwhile. Former state minister for Home Affairs Lutfozzaman Babar was placed under a three-day remand yesterday in connection with a case involving taking Tk 21 crore bribes from Basundhara Group.

Producing Babar before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate court of Golam Rabbani yesterday, police pleaded to the court to place him under a seven-day remand for questioning. However, the court granted a three-day remand. It was for the first time that Babar was taken to remand in connection with a bribery case.