A Dhaka court today handed down life imprisonment to nine individuals, including Hallmark Chairman Jasmine Islam and Managing Director Tanvir Mahmud, in connection with the Sonali Bank embezzlement case involving Tk10.5 crore.
Judge Abul Kashem of Dhaka's Special Judge Court-1 delivered the verdict in the presence of eight accused individuals in the courtroom on Tuesday.
The 17 accused in the case include Jasmine Islam, Tanvir Mahmud, Jasmine's brother Tushar Ahmed, former managing director of Sonali Bank Humayun Kabir, former deputy managing director Mainul Haque, former general manager Mir Mohidur Rahman, Nani Gopal Nath, Safiz Uddin Ahmed, former assistant general manager Saiful Hasan, former executive officer Abdul Matin, former senior executive officer of its Dhanmondi branch Meherunnisa Mary, managing director of Naqshi Knit Limited Abdul Malek, managing director of Paragon Knit Composite Limited Saiful Islam Raja, owner of Max Spinning Mills Limited Mir Zakaria, director of T& Brothers Limited Taslim Hasan, and former chairman of Savar Tentuljhara Union Parishad Jamal Uddin Sarkar.
According to the verdict, Tanvir and Jasmine were sentenced to life imprisonment and fined Tk5 crore under Section 409 of the Penal Code. They were also sentenced to seven years of rigorous imprisonment and fined Tk25,000 under Section 420.
Other accused individuals, including Saiful Hasan, Abdul Matin, Tushar Ahmed, Mir Zakaria, Saiful Islam Raja, Abdul Malek, and Taslim Hasan, were also sentenced to life imprisonment and fined Tk10 lakh under Sections 409 and 109 of the Penal Code. Additionally, they received seven years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Tk2 lakh under Section 420 and 109.
Meherunnisa Mary, Mir Mohidur Rahman, Mainul Haque, Safiz Uddin Ahmed, Kamrul Hossain Khan, Humayun Kabir, and Nani Gopal Nath were sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and fined Tk10 lakh under Section 409 and 109. Similarly, they received seven years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Tk2 lakh under Section 420 and 109.
Jamal Uddin Sarkar was sentenced to five years of rigorous imprisonment and fined Tk5 lakh under Section 409 and 109, and two years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Tk2 lakh under Section 420 and 109.
Among the accused, Tanvir, Jasmine, Tushar, Mir Mohidur, Safiz, Mainul, Kamrul, and Malek are currently incarcerated, while Jamal is out on bail. The remaining eight are absconding.
A total of 57 state witnesses testified in court during the trial, which began after charges were framed against the defendants on 27 March 2016. The case was filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) at Ramna Model Police Station on 12 October 2012, and charges were brought against 20 people on 7 October 2013.
