The New Nation - Internet Edition

Chittagong Correspondent

Six of the nine convicts in an extortion case allegedly fled from the courtroom shortly after the verdict was announced here at the court of Joint Metropolitan Session Judge (JMSJ) yesterday.

Joint Metropolitan Session Judge Ekramul Haque Chowdhury convicted nine people of extortion and ordered rigorous imprisonment of the extortionists for six years and a half each.

The court also fined Taka 6,500 each of the convicts and ordered additional rigorous imprisonment for three months and a half in default.

The convicts were identified as Zaher alias Wahid Mollah, Jashim Uddin, Nurul Amin, Zakir Hossain, Ekramul Haque Qaderi, Mamotajuddin Manjur, Shahajahan, Moinuddin and Mahbubul Alam.

Of the convicts Zaher alias Wahid Mollah, Nurul Amin, Ekramul Haque Qaderi, Mamtajuddin Manjur, Shahajahan and Moinuddin fled away from the court dock after the verdict was announced.

It is learnt that the nine convicts were close associates of detained leader of the BNP Salahuddin Qader Chowdhury.

It is learnt that Jesmin Siddiquee, a resident of city's Zakir Hossain road, filed an extortion case of Taka 15 millions against the convicts on June 12, 2005.

Police could not nab the absconding convicts till the time of filling this report.