Money laundering case against SK Sinha: Court to deliver verdict on Oct 5
A Dhaka court today fixed October 5 for delivering the judgment of a case filed over Tk 4 crore money laundering against former Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha and 10 others.
Judge Shaikh Nazmul Alam of the Special Judge's Court-4 of Dhaka set the date on completion of closing arguments in the case, said Belal Hossain, bench assistant of the court.
The 10 other accused are AKM Shamim, Gazi Salahuddin, Swapan Kumar Roy, Md Lutful Haque, Md Shahjahan, Niranjan Chandra Saha, Shafiuddin Askary Ahmed, Ranjit Chandra Saha, Santri Roy and Mahbubul Haque Chisty alias Babul Chisty.
During today's closing arguments, the prosecution told the tribunal that they were able to prove the charges against the accused and sought the highest punishment for them.
However, the defence sought acquittal of their clients, saying that the prosecution failed to prove the charges against the accused.
A total of 21 prosecution witnesses gave their deposition in the case, said the state lawyer.
During today's hearing, Shamim, Salahuddin, Swapan, Lutful, Shahjahan and Niranjan, who are now on bail, were present at the court. Only Mahbubul, who is now behind bars, was brought to the court from the jail.
Four other accused -- SK Sinha, Shafiuddin, Ranjit and Santri -- have been absconding since filing the graft case.
In October 2018, the ACC said it found evidence of fraud involving transactions of Tk 4 crore borrowed with fake documents by two businessmen, Shahjahan and Niranjan, from the Farmers Bank [now Padma Bank]. Later, the money was deposited in Justice SK Sinha's account.
On July 10 of 2019, Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Director Syed Iqbal Hossain filed the case with its Integrated District Office-1 of Dhaka against SK Sinha and 10 others in this regard.
On December 8 that year, Investigation Officer Md Benjir Ahammad, also ACC Director, pressed charges against them in the case.
On August 13 last year, the court framed charges against them.
Justice Sinha resigned on November 11, 2017, from abroad. He is now in the USA.