The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Former BNP state minister Amanullah Aman was awarded seven years' rigorous imprisonment by a court here yesterday in an extortion case.

The 6th Additional District and Sessions Judge court also fined him Tk 1 lakh, in default, to suffer another six months RI, and sentenced 11 other co-accused in the case to various jail terms.

Aman's co-accused Mojibur Rahman Dipu, Mastan, Saikat Hossain, Sona Miah, Mojibar, M Hossain, Jinnah, Kalam Member, Raja, SM Firoz and Abdul Hamid Khan were sentenced to six months in jail.

Another accused, Latif Bepari, was sentenced to five years' RI and fined Tk 10,000, in default, to suffer three months more imprisonment.

On June 21 last year, a special court dealing with corruption cases, sentenced Aman, former DUCSU VP, to 13 years' imprisonment for amassing wealth illegally and concealing information about his wealth to the ACC.

According to the prosecution of the extortion case, the convicts broke down the boundary wall of a market of complainant Haji Rafiul Alam at Aganagar Khawja Market in Keraniganj on June 26, 2004, and captured it.

When the matter was brought to the notice of Amanullah Aman, he demanded Tk 25 lakh through accused Latif.

Amanullah settled the matter at Tk 15 lakh after a bargaining and Rafiqul Alam paid the amount to Aman's wife.

A case was filed with Keraniganj police on March 6, 2007.

During the trial, Judge Altaf Hossain examined 11 witnesses out of 21 and delivered the verdict.