NBR sues Koko, Patal

L-R: Tarique, Koko and PatalCourt Correspondent

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's younger son Arafat Rahman Koko and former BNP state minister Fazlur Rahman Patal were yesterday sued for dodging income tax.

Another Dhaka court yesterday cancelled bails of Khaleda Zia's elder son BNP Senior Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman and his business partner Giasuddin Al Mamun and issued arrest warrants against them in a Tk 10-crore extortion case.

Judge ANM Bashir Ullah of the Senior Special Judge's Court issued arrest warrants against Koko and Fazlur Rahman after the National Board of Revenue filed the cases against them in connection with evading income tax in different fiscal years. The court also directed Cantonment, Natore and Rampura police stations to submit reports by March 10 and 11 on the execution of the arrest warrants.

In the complaint against Koko, Deputy Tax Commissioner of the NBR Shahin Akhter Hossain said Koko evaded income tax on his income of Tk 52.39 lakh between 2002-2003 and 2006-2007 fiscal years.

Koko, who was earlier released on parole and is now abroad for treatment, repeatedly provided false information about his real income and expenditure, alleged the NBR statement.

Koko along with his mother was arrested on September 2, 2007 in connection with the Gatco graft case and later he was placed on remand for interrogation.

Four other cases, including a money laundering and an extortion case, were also filed against him during the time when he was in jail.

CASE AGAINST FAZLUR
In the case statement against Fazlur Rahman, NBR Deputy Tax Commissioner Mizanur Rahman said he evaded Tk 7.50 lakh income tax on his income of Tk 26.10 lakh in 2005-2006 fiscal year.

Fazlur Rahman provided false information about his real income and expenditure, even though he was an influential minister, alleged the NBR statement.

He was earlier sued for non-submission of wealth statement to the now-defunct bureau of anti-corruption and for acquiring wealth through illegal means and concealing in his wealth statement to the Anti-Corruption Commission.

WARRANTS AGAINST TARIQUE-MAMUN
Metropolitan Magistrate Mehedi Hassan Talukder cancelled bails of Tarique and Mamun and issued warrants against them as they breached the terms and conditions of their bails.

The extortion case was filed against Mamun and six others with Shahbagh Police Station on April 9, 2007 in connection with taking Tk 10 crore from a businessman.

Tarique was shown arrested in the case on April 26 the same year on the basis of a confessional statement given by Mamun.

Tarique, accused in 15 other criminal cases, was granted bail by the High Court on December 2, 2007 and it stayed the proceeding of the case related to Tarique on April 29, 2008. The High Court again stayed all the proceedings of the case on August 25, 2008.

The HC then vacated the stay on the proceedings of the case on November 2 last year.

However, Tarique and Mamun's lawyers did not make any move before the trial court like presenting their clients or asking for bail extensions on two consecutive dates, which led the court to issue arrest warrants against them.

Tarique was arrested on March 7, 2007, while Mamun was arrested on March 26 the same year. Mamun, an accused in several other criminal cases, was earlier sentenced to different terms of punishment for possessing illegal firearms, not submitting wealth statement and amassing wealth illegally.