Graft Case: Ex-MP Bodi’s trial begins in Chattogram
A court in Chattogram yesterday started trial proceedings of a corruption case against former Awami League lawmaker of Cox's Bazar-4 Abdur Rahman Bodi.
Acting Judge of Chittagong Divisional Special Judge Court Md Ismail Hossain framed the charges against him around yesterday noon and set October 15 for the start of recording testimonies.
Bodi, who drew huge criticism across the country over his alleged involvement with Yaba trading, was present in the courtroom, court sources said.
"Commencement of the trial was delayed for different reasons. Bodi filed appeals with the High Court and Supreme Court seeking stay on the case proceedings. But his appeals were rejected," said Kazi Sanwar Ahmed Lavlu, public prosecutor of the ACC's Chattogram's regional office.
"As all the obstacles were cleared, the trial has begun today [Sunday]. We hope the trail will be completed soon," he told The Daily Star.
"The ACC has found evidence against Bodi during its investigation over accumulating wealth from unknown sources of income. We told this before the court during the hearing," he added.
"Bodi is now on bail in the case," said Lavlu.
Abul Kalam Azad, the then deputy director of ACC Chattogram's regional office, filed the case with Double Mooring Police Station on December 17, 2007, alleging that Bodi made wealth illegally and had concealed the information in his wealth statement.
Bodi, who was the mayor of Teknaf municipality that time, was charged with illegally amassing wealth worth of over Tk 65 lakhs and concealing information of wealth worth of over Tk 43 lakhs.
Although then ACC deputy director Azad filed the case, another DD, Ali Akbar, investigated the allegations.
In 2008, Akbar submitted a charge sheet against Bodi.
Bodi was elected lawmaker of Cox's Bazar-4, consisting Teknaf and Ukhia upazilas. But he failed to gain party's nomination in the 11th national elections in 2018.
His wife Shahin Akter got the party's nomination and won. She is now serving as the incumbent lawmaker of Cox's Bazar-4.
Contacted, Bodi said the charges against him were false.
"I will not make any comment over court proceedings. I will go through legal procedure and prove that the allegations against me are not true," he told The Daily Star.
Our correspondents from Chattogram and Cox's Bazar contributed to the story.
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