‘Not Submitting Wealth Info’: Ishraque acquitted in ACC case

A Dhaka court yesterday acquitted BNP's Ishraque Hossain, a candidate for the last Dhaka South City Corporation election, in a graft case filed for not submitting his wealth statement to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

Judge Shaikh Nazmul Alam of the Special Judge's Court-4 of Dhaka passed the order in presence of Ishraque, son of former Dhaka City Corporation mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka, in a packed courtroom.

In the judgment, the judge said he found no satisfactory evidence to convict Ishraque. The prosecution have completely failed to produce vital witnesses to prove the charges. Moreover, the notice was not duly served upon Ishraque.

So the accused was acquitted, the judge said.

The judge also said the notice was served by hanging it on the wall of 20 Hare Road where the then mayor Khoka lived. It is unbelievable that why a notice was served this way though several employees were working at the residence.

Moreover, his permanent address is at 4/1 Gopibagh where the ACC could have served notice.

Soon after the judgment, Ishraque told journalists that there are still a section of judges in the judiciary who are engaged in establishing rule of law.

Earlier, the prosecution and defence completed their arguments and the court recorded statements of six prosecution witnesses, including the case's complainant.

The same court on January 15 framed charges against him.

On December 6 of 2018, ACC Deputy Director Jahangir Hossain pressed charges against Ishraque.

Later on May 5 last year, Judge KM Emrul Kayesh of the Senior Special Judge's Court of Dhaka took cognisance of the charges in his absence and issued arrest warrant against him.

Ishraque on December 9 last year secured bail from the court on his surrender.

According to the prosecution, it was alleged that ACC on September 1 of 2008 served a notice asking Ishraque to submit his wealth statement to it in seven days.

But Ishraque failed to submit that within the time. On August 29 of 2010, the ACC filed a case against him with Ramna Police Station.