The High Court on June 22 stayed a part of the trial court verdict that fined Destiny Group managing director Rafiqul Amin Tk 2.0 billion in a case.
It also admitted an appeal petition for hearing against his 12-year jail term and fines given by a special court over embezzling Tk 18.61 billion through Destiny Multipurpose Cooperative Society.
At the same time, the HC called for all records of the case from the trial court and ordered to prepare paper book for appeal hearing in the case.
The HC bench of Justice SM Kuddus Zaman and Justice Md Riaz Uddin Khan passed the order after primary hearing on the petition.
Lawyer Uzzal Kumar Bhowmick appeared in the court hearing on behalf of Mr Rafiqul. He shared the development with the media on Monday.
Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan said Mr Rafiqul's lawyer placed the petition for hearing without noticing the ACC. The financial penalty cannot be stayed, he added.
On May 12, a special court in Dhaka sentenced all the 46 accused, including Destiny Group president and retired Gen Harun-Ar-Rashid and managing director Rafiqul Amin, to different jail terms.
Mr Harun was sentenced to four years and fined Tk 35 million and Mr Rafiqul to 12 years in jail and fined Tk 2.0 billion.
The court awarded minimum imprisonment to the former army chief considering his noble contribution to the great liberation war in 1971.
Judge of the Special Judge's Court-04 in Dhaka, Shaikh Nazmul Alam, delivered the verdict after concluding all the proceedings of the case.
During the admission of the appeal petition filed by Gen Harun, the HC on June 09 also directed the government bodies concerned to immediately take steps to arrest 39 absconders.
Inspector General of Police (IGP), Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and other law-enforcement agencies have been asked to comply with the direction.
The ACC on 31 July 2012 filed two cases under the Money Laundering Prevention Act with Kalabagan police station.
In one case, 46 people were accused of misappropriating Tk 18.61 billion under the cover of Destiny Multipurpose Cooperative Society Ltd project.
In another case, 19 were accused of embezzling Tk 22.57 billion through Destiny Tree Plantation project.
The court on 24 August 2016 framed charges in the two cases.
Of them, the court gave verdict in Destiny Multipurpose Cooperative Society on May 12 this year.
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