DIG Mizan gets 14-yr jail term in graft case

A Dhaka court on Wednesday sentenced former Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Mizanur Rahman to 14 years' imprisonment in a case filed on charge of amassing wealth beyond known sources of income and concealing information in his wealth statement.
Mizan's wife, Sohelia Anar Ratna, nephew Mahmudul Hasan, a suspended sub-inspector of police, and his brother Mahbubur Rahman were also jailed for seven years for abetting the act of amassing the illegal wealth.
The Judge of the Special Judge's Court-6 of Dhaka, Monjurul Imam, delivered the verdict after concluding the trial in the case.
In his judgment, the judge said the prosecution was able to prove the charges brought against all the accused beyond doubt and they were given the punishment for committing the offences.
Mizan was also fined Tk 0.15 million, in default of which he will have to serve nine more months in jail. The time that Mizan has already served will be deducted from his sentence, said the judge.
Lawyer Ehsanul Haque Shomaji who appeared in the court hearing on behalf of DIG Mizan, said the court sentenced the former DIG to six years, five years and three years of imprisonment for three different charges and the convictions will continue simultaneously.
During the judgment, Mizan, Mahmudul and Mahbubur were present in the court. Ratna was tried in absentia. Her punishment will be effective from the day of her arrest or surrender, said the judge.
The judge observed that Mizan was a senior official of the police force but he had committed heinous offences by acquiring wealth illegally. So, he could not get any facilities from the court.
On June 24, 2019, the ACC filed the case with its Integrated District Office in Dhaka against Mizan and three others. A charge of amassing wealth of Tk 32.86 million beyond known sources of income and concealing information of Tk 30.7 million in his wealth statement was brought in the case against them.
After an investigation, the ACC submitted a charge sheet against them on January 30, 2020. On October 20, 2020, the judge framed charges against Mizan and the three others in the case.
Lawyer Ehsanul Haque Shomaji appeared in the court hearing on behalf of DIG Mizan, lawyer Shahinur Islam appeared for Mahmudul Hasan, while lawyer Mosharraf Hossain Kazal represented the ACC.
Earlier on February 23, last year, another Dhaka court sentenced Mizan to three years in jail in another graft case.

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