Naser Rahman jailed for 13yrs

An anti-graft tribunal yesterday sentenced former BNP lawmaker M Naser Rahman to 13 years in prison for concealing wealth information and amassing assets beyond known sources of income.
The Special Court-9 also fined Naser, son of former finance minister M Saifur Rahman, Tk 5 lakh. In the event of a default in payment, he will have to serve one more year in jail.
Besides, the government was ordered to confiscate his wealth worth around Tk 1.80 crore.
Of the term, 10 years' rigorous imprisonment was given for illegally accumulating wealth and three years' imprisonment for concealing information in wealth statement to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
The court did not pass any order on Naser's wife and co-accused Rizina Naser, who is on bail following a High Court stay on the proceedings against her.
Naser will have to be in jail for 13 years as the prison sentences will be carried out consecutively, not concurrently. The sentences would take effect from the day of his arrest.
The court framed charges against him on December 9 last year while deposition of witnesses began on January 14 this year.
Naser Rahman amassed a fortune through getting rake-offs from businesses as he would hold sway over all government departments as the son of finance minister during the BNP-led four-party alliance rule.
He was elected member of parliament from Moulvibazar-3 constituency in the by-election of November 12, 2001 on BNP ticket. The seat fell vacant after his father had left one of the two constituencies he won in the general election of October 1, 2001.
The joint forces in a move against graft suspects detained Naser on February 4 this year.
ACC Deputy Director Moniruzzaman Khan filed the case against him and his wife on May 27 last year.
In the case statement, the complainant said the couple kept back information about wealth worth Tk 4.90 crore in their assets accounts.
The case was filed under sections 26(2) and 27 (1) of the ACC Act 2004, section 15 of the Emergency Power Rules, 2007 and section 109 of the penal code.
After investigation, the ACC charged Naser with accumulating assets worth Tk 5.33 crore through illegal means and concealing information about wealth worth around Tk 1.80 crore.
Earlier on September 18 last year, he was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment for extortion.
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