Former B'desh PM Khaleda Zia's son awarded 7-year imprisonment

A High Court on Thursday awarded seven-year imprisonment to former Bangladesh prime minister Khaleda Zia's son and senior Vice Chairman of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Tarique Rahman, scrapping his acquittal in a Tk 20.41 crore money laundering case.

The order was passed by High Court bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Amir Hossain, reports the Daily Star.

Rahman's business partner, Giasuddin Al Mamun's previous lower court verdict of seven years of jail term has remained upheld for the same offence.

Mamun's previous fine amount of Tk 40 crore has been commuted and levelled with Tarique at Tk 20 crore.

In 2009, the anti-graft body Anti-Commission Commission (ACC) filed the case against Tarique and Mamun for siphoning off the money to Singapore between 2003 and 2007.

A lower court had previously acquitted Tarique of charges and sentenced his friend Mamun to seven years of imprisonment with Tk 40 crore fine.

After Anti-Commission Commission appealed against the verdict, the High Court passed a new order leveling the punishment to the duo.

Meanwhile, Tarique's lawyer Zainul Abedin said that his client was not involved in money laundering adding, the defence will scrutinize whether there are any chance of an appeal.