Babar jailed for 8 years in graft case

A Dhaka court has sentenced former state minister for home Lutfozzaman Babar to eight years in jail in a case filed against him on charges of amassing illegal wealth and concealing wealth statement.

Judge Mohammad Shahidul Islam of Dhaka Special Judges Court-7 pronounced the verdict in the case on Tuesday (October 12).

Earlier on October 4, the court set today for pronouncing the verdict in the case after hearing closing arguments of both prosecution and defence in the case.

During the closing hearings, the prosecution told the court that it had been able to prove the charges against Babar, and sought the highest punishment for him.

On the other hand, defence lawyers sought acquittal of their client claiming that the prosecution had failed to prove the charges against him.

The court on September 21 read out the charges brought against Babar and testimonies of the prosecution witnesses.

Babar, however, pleaded not guilty and demanded justice from the court.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case against Babar with Ramna police on January 13, 2008, accusing him of amassing wealth of around Tk7.05 crore illegally.

ACC Deputy Assistant Director Rupok Kumar Saha submitted the charge sheet in the case on July 16, 2008. A Dhaka court on August 12 of the same year indicted Babar in this case.

Babar was arrested from his Gulshan residence on May 28, 2007. He was sentenced to 17 years of imprisonment in an arms case on October 30, 2007. 

He was also sentenced to death in the 10-truck arms haul and August 21 grenade attack cases.