The New Nation - Internet Edition

Court Correspondent

A court of Dhaka yesterday sentenced Bashundhara Group Chairman fugitive Ahmed Akbar Sobhan alias Shah Alam, his wife and 3 sons to 2-years' rigorous imprisonment (RI) in a case filed under Section 23 of the Foreign Currency Control Act 1947.

Shah Alam and other fugitive convicts, his wife Afroza Begum, his sons-Sadat Sobhan Tanver, Sayem Sobhan Tanver and Sapoan Sobhan Tanver were also fined Taka 10,000 each in default they will suffer RI for 3 months more.

In the case, the convicts were accused of keeping foreign currencies of 25 countries amounting to 14,32,929.13. Metropolitan Additional Sessions Judge of First Court Md. Abul Bashar pronounced the verdict in his crowded court-room Monday at 2 PM. Earlier he recorded the depositions of 15 witnesses to give the verdict.

Brief prosecution story says : While conducting a raid at the Gulshan residence of Shah Alam on February 4 last year, the Joint Forces including the complainant SI Md. Faruque Hossain tried to arrest Shah Alam. But he was not found at his residence.

However, the Police recovered the foreign currencies including Taka 8,77,885.00 and various documents.

The wife and sons of Shah Alam could not give any satisfactory answer about the foreign currencies and other items. Later on February 19 last year the complainant filed the case with Gulshan Thana of the city accusing the fugitives of bringing the foreign currencies in the country and possessing those illegally to meet some common intention.

Additional Public Prosecutor Md. Abdul Nur Bhuiyan Bablu conducted the case on behalf of the prosecution.