Tarique, Giasuddin acquitted in money laundering case

The Appellate Division has acquitted BNP's acting chairman Tarique Rahman and businessman Giasuddin Al Mamun from a seven-year prison sentence in a case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) over laundering money to Singapore.

The Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed accepted the appeal by Giasuddin against a High Court verdict and pronounced the order today.

During the hearing, senior lawyers SM Shahjahan, Sheikh Mohammad Zakir Hossain and lawyer Sabbir Hamza Chowdhury stood for the accused, while senior lawyer Asif Hasan represented the ACC.

Tarique's lawyer, Barrister Zakir Hossain, told TBS today, "Around 84-85 cases were filed against Tarique during the 1/11 government and the Awami League government. Some major cases include the 21 August grenade attack, the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case, the illegal wealth case, the Singapore money laundering case, the defamation case in Narail, and the treason case in Dhaka.

"Tarique Rahman had been sentenced in these six cases, but they were all resolved in his favour by the Appellate Division."

He added, "Except for these six cases, charges were dropped in the other cases after 5 August, and the remaining cases were either dismissed or stayed by the High Court. These cases, filed in various districts, involved charges of sabotage, extortion, and defamation."

Earlier on 10 December last year, the Appellate Division permitted the accused in the money laundering case to file an appeal based on a plea by Giasuddin and stayed the penalty.

Giasuddin filed an appeal later, and a hearing on this appeal was concluded on Tuesday.

On 26 October 2009, the ACC lodged the money laundering case with Cantonment police station in the capital.

On 6 July 2010, a charge sheet was submitted to the court accusing Tarique and Giasuddin of the crime.

On 8 August 2011, the court framed charges against the accused. The court took testimony from a total of 13 witnesses, and Agent of Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Debra Leprovet provided testimony as the witness beyond the charge sheet.

According to the charge sheet, Giasuddin took Tk20 crore from Chairman of Nirman Construction Company Limited Khadiza Islam to give her the contract to build an 80MW power plant in Gazipur's Tongi.

The money was exchanged in Singapore. Giasuddin deposited the money in his account with City Bank NA on Capital Street in Singapore, and Tarique spent Tk3.78 crore from this money, the charge sheet said.

On 17 November 2013, Dhaka's 3rd Special Judge Court acquitted Tarique from the case and sentenced Giasuddin to seven years in prison in the money laundering case.

Giasuddin was also fined Tk40 crore, and the court asked the government to seize the laundered money in favour of the state.

On 5 December 2013, the ACC filed an appeal against the verdict. Giasuddin also filed an appeal, and a HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Amir Hossain sentenced Tarique to seven years in prison and fined him Tk20 crore after hearing both sides on 21 July 2016.

Later, Giasuddin filed an appeal to the Appellate Division against the HC verdict.