The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

A special court trying high-profile corruption suspects Monday sentenced fugitive former Awami League chief whip Abul Hasnat Abdullah to 13 years imprisonment for corruption.

The court also fined him to pay Tk 20 lakh or serve two more years in jail.

In a further order of punishment the court ordered confiscation of his wealth worth Tk 1.17 crore which he acquired "illegally".

"The sentences come into effect after his arrest or surrender to the court," says the court order.

The Awami League leader was charged with amassing wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income and concealing his assets while submitting statement to the Anti-Corruption Commission under the current drive against corruption.

Earlier, on December 12 last year, the special court set up on the parliament premises had sentenced Hasnat to nine years imprisonment in absentia for non-submission of his income-tax return, concealing real income and evading tax.