Papiya, husband sentenced to 3.5 years in jail, fined Tk5 lakh each for amassing Tk6.24cr
The verdict was delivered by Judge Mohammad Abu Taher of the Special Judge’s Court-3, Dhaka, in the presence of the accused.
A Dhaka court today (14 August) sentenced former Narsingdi Jubo Mohila League leader Shamima Noor Papiya and her husband, Mofizur Rahman, to three and a half years in prison for amassing illegal wealth of Tk6.24 crore.
In addition, the court imposed a fine of Tk5 lakh on each, totalling Tk10 lakh, Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) prosecutor Mahmud Hossain Jahangir confirmed the matter.
The verdict was delivered by Judge Mohammad Abu Taher of the Special Judge's Court-3, Dhaka, in the presence of the accused, who had been out on bail. Following the announcement, the court revoked their bail and ordered them to be taken into custody.
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The case was prosecuted by Jahangir, while the defence was represented by lawyer Shakhawat Ullah Bhuiyan.
The ACC filed the case on 4 August 2020, following the arrest of the couple by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) on 22 February that year. ACC Deputy Director Shahin Ara Momtaz lodged the case under the ACC Act 2004.
Charges were formally framed on 30 November 2021, and the trial began shortly thereafter.
According to the charge sheet, between 12 October 2019 and 22 February 2020, Papiya stayed in 25 rooms at the Westin Dhaka hotel, spending over Tk3.23 crore in cash on accommodation, food, alcohol, spa services, laundry, and minibar expenses.
She also reportedly spent nearly Tk40 lakh on shopping during the same period, without demonstrating any legal source for the funds.
Investigators further reported that no valid explanation was provided for Tk30 lakh spent on house rent over five years, Tk1 crore invested in a car business, Tk20 lakh invested in KMC Car Wash Solution in Narsingdi, and over Tk30.52 lakh deposited in bank accounts held by the couple.
A RAB raid on their residence recovered Tk58.41 lakh in cash and a Honda CVA 2012 model car valued at Tk22 lakh, both of unverified legal origin.
During the hearing on 7 August, ACC prosecutor Jahangir requested the maximum sentence for the accused.
Defence counsel Shakhawat contended that they were unable to present a full defence, as the court had denied their request for additional preparation time.
