It also ordered the government to confiscate the assets that do not tally with the known sources of his income.

MK Alamgir, also a presidium member of Awami League (AL), was given 10 years' rigorous imprisonment under section 27 (1) of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Act, 2004 for amassing around Tk 3.27 crore through misuse of power.

The special court also fined him Tk 10 lakh and in case of a default in payment he would have to serve one more year of rigorous imprisonment.

Alamgir was sentenced to three years in prison under section 26 (2) of the ACC Act, 2004 for concealing in his wealth statement the information about six fixed deposits worth Tk 1.17 crore.

Judge Shahed Noor Uddin of the Special Court-3 set up at the MP Hostel in Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban complex delivered the judgment a few minutes past 1:00pm.

Earlier, the ex-state minister for planning was brought to the courthouse from Kashimpur jail at 10:30am. In a Mujib coat, he looked tense but smiled at times listening to the judge reading out the decision.

"The judgment does not reflect justice. It came even after the case was not proved beyond doubt, and Mohiuddin will move to a higher court," said defence lawyer Syed Rezaur Rahman.

"I've nothing to say. At this moment, I presume I can't distinguish if it's justice or a farce. If this is the way of establishing democracy, I hope and pray that the country gets rid of this," said Dr Borhan Uddin Khan Jahangir, a Dhaka University teacher and elder brother of Alamgir.

Defence lawyer Rezaur Rahman prayed for some time to discuss with his client the case, the judge rejected it, suggesting that he should rather proceed according to the law.

Expressing satisfaction over the judgment, Syed Mizanur Rahman of the prosecution said, "The charge has been proved and the verdict was given in accordance with the law."

"The information Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir gave in his wealth statement did not correspond to the amount of income tax he had paid earlier. He also showed different property in names of his wife and sons at prices lower than actual," added the prosecution lawyer.

Prosecution lawyers told The Daily Star that Alamgir would have to be in jail for 13 years as the convictions will be implemented consecutively, not concurrently.

CASE, INVESTIGATION
The court took about 10 days more than the stipulated time frame for delivering the judgment as seven people gave their depositions in favour of Alamgir and two charge sheets including a supplementary was submitted.

Deputy Director (DD) of ACC Jibon Krishna Roy filed the case with Tejgaon Police Station on March 6, accusing Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir of making a huge fortune through misuse of power. He also accused him of concealing information in the wealth statement submitted to the ACC.

Investigation Officer Sharmin Ferdousi, ACC deputy director, submitted the first charge sheet on April 29 to a metropolitan magistrate's court in Dhaka. She said Alamgir has Tk 1.17 crore in six fixed deposits but did not mention those in the wealth statement to the anti-graft body.

The metropolitan magistrate's court sent the case to the special court on May 6 for quick disposal.

After submitting the first charge sheet, the prosecution took 10 days' time for further investigation. And the new investigation officer, ACC DD Sayed Iqbal Hossain, submitted a supplementary charge sheet on May 21.

The special court framed charges against him on May 27. Some 37 witnesses gave deposition in the case. Besides, seven people including Dr Akbar Ali Khan, Dr Abul Barkat and an American economist gave statement in favour of Alamgir.

ASSETS TO BE FORFEITED
The property to be confiscated by the government includes Tk 1.17 crore found in six fixed deposits with the IFIC Karwan Bazar branch. A house in Comilla that in the wealth statement was shown in his son's name, a four-storey building in Banani, a market, a petrol pump, shares and property in Gulbahar Himagar Ltd and a house in Kachua of Chandpur.

Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir in his statement said he has Tk 1.6 crore, and of that, Tk 90 lakh was in fixed deposits.

The joint forces arrested him on February 3 in their first drive against corruption suspects. He was among the 50 people asked to submit wealth statements to the ACC.