Purbachal plot scam: Joy and Putul get 5 years' imprisonment each
On 12 January, ACC Assistant Director Afnan Jannat Keya filed a case against 16 people, including Hasina and her daughter, Saima Wazed Putul
Sajeeb Wazed Joy and Saima Wazed Putul, children of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, have each been sentenced to five years in prison in corruption cases related to irregularities in Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) plot allocations.
Joy received an additional Tk1 lakh fine. Their mother, Sheikh Hasina, was sentenced to a total of 21 years' imprisonment in three separate cases.
The judgments were delivered today (27 November), by Judge Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun of Dhaka Special Judge Court-5. Hasina received seven years of imprisonment in each of her three cases, with the court stating that the sentences must be served consecutively.
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The reading of the verdict began at 11:24am amidst drastically heightened security at the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court area, where a strong police presence and BGB personnel deployed since the morning.
The court is currently delivering its verdict in three separate corruption cases against 23 individuals, including the ousted prime minister, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and daughter Saima Wazed Putul, over alleged irregularities in Rajuk plot allocations in Purbachal.
Judge Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun pronounced the judgments in the absence of the convicts, as they have yet to be arrested and were tried in absentia.
Saima Wazed currently holds a high-profile position, having been nominated by the Government of Bangladesh for the post of Regional Director of the World Health Organization's (WHO) South-East Asia Region (WHO-SEARO).
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed six cases between 12 to 14 January, and submitted charge-sheets in all of them on 10 March. The cases involve the alleged irregular allocation of Rajuk plots in Purbachal.
On 1 July, the court ordered a gazette notification summoning 100 accused, including Sheikh Hasina, her sister Sheikh Rehana, and her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy.
The graft body filed six cases between 12 to 14 January, and submitted charge-sheets in all of them on 10 March.
According to the case documents, ACC Deputy Director Md Salahuddin filed the first case on 14 January against eight accused, including Hasina, over the alleged irregular allocation of a 10-katha plot in Purbachal. A charge-sheet in this case later named 12 accused.
On the same day, ACC Assistant Director SM Rashedul Hasan filed the second case against 15 accused, including Hasina and Joy; the charge-sheet later named 17.
On 13 January, Salahuddin filed another case against 15 people, including Hasina, Sheikh Rehana, Radwan Mujib, Tulip Siddiq and Azmina Siddiq. The charge-sheet named 17 accused.
Another case filed the same day accused 16 individuals, including Hasina, Tulip Siddiq and Azmina Siddiq, with the charge-sheet listing 18 accused.
Additionally, a case was filed against Radwan Mujib and 15 others, with the charge-sheet also naming 18 accused.
On 12 January, ACC Assistant Director Afnan Jannat Keya filed a case against 16 people, including Hasina and Saima Wazed Putul. The charge-sheet listed 18 accused.
Among the 23 accused in these three cases, the sole individual currently in custody is Mohammad Khurshid Alam, former member (Estate and Land) of Rajuk, who was brought to court today, reports BSS.
Public prosecutor for the complainant ACC, Mir Ahammed Salam, had expressed confidence that the prosecution successfully proved the allegations through witness testimony and documentary evidence against all 47 accused across all six cases, and was seeking the maximum punishment of life imprisonment for all.
