Dhaka: The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (SC) today acquitted BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman and businessman Md Gias Uddin Al Mamun of all the charges in a money laundering case, in which they were sentenced to seven-year imprisonment by the High Court. "The appeal is allowed," said the short judgment pronounced by a four-member Appellate Division bench headed by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the apex court issued the judgment, allowing Mamun's appeal against the High Court judgment. Lawyers indicated that the apex court's decision would also extend to Tarique Rahman, who could not file an appeal against the High Court judgment.
Senior Advocate SM Shahjahan, Barrister Sheikh Mohammad Zakir Hossain, Advocate Jakir Hossain, and Advocate Maksud Ullah participated in the hearing for the appeal. In contrast, senior advocate Asif Hossain represented the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
The anti-graft body lodged the case on October 26, 2009, with the Cantonment Police Station and filed the charge sheet against Tarique Rahman and Mamun on July 6, 2010. The Dhaka 3rd Special Judge Court on November 17, 2013, acquitted Tarique Rahman but sentenced Mamun to seven years imprisonment and fined him Taka 40 crore. It also ordered the confiscation of Taka 20.41 crore in favor of the state.
The ACC appealed against the lower court judgment, and so did Mamun. The High Court, after hearing the pleas, sentenced Tarique Rahman to seven years imprisonment and fined him Taka 20 crore. It also upheld the lower court judgment against Md Gias Uddin Al Mamun.
Mamun subsequently filed an appeal against the High Court judgment, and the Appellate Division today delivered its verdict, allowing that appeal.