SC upholds three Apan owners’ bail
The Supreme Court yesterday upheld a High Court verdict that granted bail to three Apan Jewellers owners -- Dildar Ahmed, Gulzar Ahmed and Azad Ahmed -- in three money laundering cases.
A five-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Justice Md Abdul Wahhab Miah, who is performing functions of the chief justice, dismissed three leave-to-appeal petitions filed by the government challenging the HC verdict.
Gulzar Ahmed and Azad Ahmed will be released from jail following the SC order but Dildar Ahmed will not be as his two petitions seeking bail in two other cases are pending with the HC, Mehedi Hasan Chowdhury, a lawyer for the accused, told The Daily Star.
On December 14 last year, the HC granted bail to Dildar, Azad and Gulzar in the three separate money laundering cases.
Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID) on August 12 sued three on the charge of money laundering in importing around 15 maunds of gold.
Three separate cases were lodged with Dhanmondi, Ramna and Uttara police stations while two additional lawsuits were lodged with Gulshan Police Station in this connection.
According to the statements of the cases, owners of the much-talked-about Apan Jewellers imported around 15 maunds of gold and diamonds by “dodging tax”.
Apan Jewellers owners Dildar Ahmed Selim, father of the double-rape case accused Shafat Ahamed, was made accused in three cases while Gulzar Ahmed and Azad Ahmed made accused of three separate cases following the directives of National Board of Revenue.
The three were sent to jail on October 28 last year after they surrendered to the trial court.
Advocate AM Aminuddin, Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh and Barrister Mehedi Hasan Chowdhury appeared for the accused petitioners while Deputy Attorney General Motaher Hossain Sazu represented the state.
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