In a significant ruling, businessman Giasuddin Al Mamun, a close associate of BNP acting chairperson Tarique Rahman, was acquitted of charges in a money laundering case.
The High Court bench, comprising Justice AKM Asaduzzaman and Justice Syed Enayetur Rahim, delivered the verdict on Thursday (5 December) afternoon.
Representing the petitioner in court were lawyers Omar Sadat and Sabbir Hamza, while Asif Hasan argued on behalf of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
Sabbir Hamza Chowdhury, counsel for Mamun, stated that his client had already served a seven-year sentence and paid a penalty of Tk12 crore imposed by the 2019 judgement, which also included the confiscation of Tk6.01 crore.
"Today, the independent judiciary has exonerated him of all charges," Hamza remarked, referring to the High Court's decision.
The original case was filed by the ACC on 22 September 2011 at Cantonment Police Station in Dhaka.
According to the case details, M Shahjad Ali, the chairman of BTL and Globe Pharmaceuticals, served as the local agent for a Dutch contracting company that secured a tender for modernising railway signalling.
In 2003, during the finalisation of the work order, Mamun allegedly demanded an illicit commission from Shahjad Ali, threatening to cancel the order otherwise.
Subsequently, in 2004, Ali transferred Tk6.01 crore (equivalent to £44,610.08 in British sterling) to Mamun’s account at NatWest Bank in London.
On 24 April 2019, the Dhaka Special Judge's Court-3 sentenced Mamun to seven years of imprisonment, imposed a fine of Tk12 crore, and ordered the confiscation of Tk6.01 crore held in his London account.
Special Judge Abu Syed Dilzar Hossain delivered the verdict.
Following the conviction, Mamun appealed to the High Court.
On Thursday, after years of legal proceedings, the High Court overturned the earlier ruling, acquitting Mamun of all charges. This decision marks the culmination of a lengthy judicial process.
