Ex-joint secy gets 5-yr jail term in graft case

A Dhaka court on Wednesday sentenced former joint secretary Rafiqul Mohamed to five years' jail in a case filed over embezzling government-owned property through forgery, reports UNB.

Special Judge court-4 judge Sheikh Najmul Alam pronounced the verdict in presence of the convicts.

The court also fined Rafiqul Tk 25,000, in default, to suffer three months more imprisonment.

When the case was filed, Rafiqul was an assistant commissioner of the National Housing Authority.

The court also sentenced Morol Kafil, senior assistant, and Abdul Jalil, junior assistant of NHA, to three years' jail and fined them Tk 10,000, each, in default of which they will have to suffer three months more in jail.

According to the case statement, one of the accused Abul Hashem Mollah, who died during the trial, took re-allotment of the government plot concealing information and showing fake papers.

The convicts embezzled government property in collusion with each other and abusing power for their personal benefit.

Anti-Corruption Commission inspector Md Roisuddin filed the case against the four people with Ramna Police Station on June 30, 2003.

Later, ACC deputy director Reva Halder submitted charge sheet against the accused on March 15, 2009 and the court framed charges against them on October 26, 2009.