HC upholds forest gobbler Gani’s jail term

The High Court today upheld a lower court verdict that jailed former chief conservator of forest (CCF) Osman Gani for 12 years for amassing wealth illegally and concealing information in his wealth statement submitted to the ACC.

The HC bench of Justice Md Ruhul Quddus and Justice Bhismadev Chakrabarti came up with the order, rejecting an appeal filed by Gani challenging the lower court verdict on him.

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan told The Daily Star that the HC upheld Gani’s sentence as allegation of corruption brought against him has been proved.

Judge AKM Arifur Rahman of the Special Court-10 sentenced Gani to 12 years' imprisonment on June 5, 2008.

The court also handed down three years' imprisonment to Gani's fugitive wife Mohsenara Gani for aiding and abetting her husband in accumulating and protecting illegal wealth.

Gani and his wife were fined Tk 10 lakh and Tk 100,000 respectively.