The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

An anti-graft court yesterday sentenced Giasuddin Al Mamun, a controversial businessman and closed friend of ex-PM Khaleda Zia's son Tarique Rahman, to 10 years in prison and his wife three years for acquiring wealth illegally.

The seventh special court set up in parliament compound also fined Mamun Tk 10 lakh, in

default of which he has to spend one more year behind bars.

The court also ordered confiscation of property of around Tk 111 crore, which the couple had hide in their wealth statement to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

On October 24, Investigation officer Tahsinul Haque submitted charge sheet against Mamun and his wife Yeasmin to the general recording officer at prosecution office of the ACC at the Chief Metropolitan Magistrates' Court, Dhaka.

They amassed wealth worth Tk 142 crore during the five-year tenure of the alliance government. Their wealth includes movable and immovable property, investment and shares in different businesses, according to the charge sheet.

Mamun accumulated Tk 129 crore, paid tax on around Tk 27 crore and hid information about Tk 102 crore.

Yeasmin amassed wealth worth about Tk 13 crore and paid tax on Tk 3.19 crore but concealed information about Tk 9.23 crore.

The couple thus hid information about Tk 110.97 crore.

Mamun used his close relation with Tarique, elder son of Khaleda -- both now detained-- to amass the huge wealth, the charge sheet mentioned.

Mamun owns 9,000 shares worth Tk 33.94 crore in three industries and the couple owns houses and land and has fixed deposits in banks at home and abroad.

Mamun used to maintain 45 bank accounts at home and abroad. He has Tk 26.32 crore in three accounts with Natwest Bank and City Bank in London and Singapore. He has 24 fixed deposits in Banani branch of Dhaka Bank and seven in Banani branch of Dutch Bangla Bank, according to the charge sheet.

The Joint forces arrested Mamun, who was on the first list of 50 high profile graft suspects published by the commission on February 18, from his Gulshan residence on March 26.