Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya

A special court yesterday sentenced former state minister for shipping Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya to 13 years imprisonment for amassing wealth illegally and concealing wealth information.
Judge Ashraf Hossain of the Special Court-5 sentenced the accused in absentia in a courtroom set up at the MP Hostel in the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban Complex.
The court also fined the Awami League (AL) leader Tk 5 crore and ordered confiscation of about Tk 6 crore of his ill-gotten wealth.
Maya would have to serve an additional year in jail if he fails to pay the fine.
The court acquitted Maya's wife Parvin Chowdhury, their sons Sajedul Hossain Chowdhury Dipu and Rashedul Hossain Chowdhury and Dipu's wife Subarna Chowdhury as charges brought against them of abetting Maya to acquire wealth through dishonest means were not proved.
The AL leader was sentenced to 10 years rigorous imprisonment for amassing wealth illegally and to three years simple imprisonment for concealing information in his wealth statement submitted to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
ACC Assistant Director Nurul Alam filed the case with Sutrapur Police Station against Maya and six others on June 13, 2007.
Investigation Officer (IO) of the case ACC Assistant Director Towfiqul Islam submitted the charge sheet against the former minister and four others to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court on October 25, 2007 showing 40 people as prosecution witnesses.
The IO dropped the names of Maya's son Rifat Sayeed Chowdhury and Rashed's wife Farhana Chowdhury from the charge sheet as their involvement was not proved in the probe.
According to the case statement, the accused accumulated wealth worth Tk 6.29 crore illegally and concealed information about Tk 5.90 crore of assets in the wealth statement.
On November 4, 2007, a Dhaka court ordered to attach the properties of Maya and four of his family members, who are currently on the run, in a graft case.