FBI investigator testifies against Tarique

US investigator Debra LaPrevotte has testified in a money-laundering case against BNP senior vice-chairman Tarique Rahman and his friend Giasuddin Al Mamun, reports bdnews24.com. Mamun's lawyers left the courtroom without quizzing Debra after the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agent's deposition had been recorded on Wednesday. They alleged that law was violated in recording her statement by Dhaka's Special Judge's Court-3 from 11.00am to 1:30pm. Judge Mozammel Hossain set Dec 8 for recording further depositions of witnesses. Debra had investigated the allegation of money-laundering by BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia's eldest son Tarique Rahman and his business associate Mamun. Mamun's counsels Khandaker Mahbub Hossain and Fakhrul Islam said Debra was not a witness named in the charge-sheet. According to rules, statement of a witness, not named in the charge-sheet, is recorded after the recording of the statements of witnesses included in the chargesheet. But this time it was not done, they said. They further alleged that they had not been given time to check Debra's deposition and the documents she presented in support of her statement. They filed a petition seeking postponement on Debra's testimonial on Wednesday. The plea said the witness is not included in the chargesheet and the statement was not given under Section 161 to the Criminal Procedure Code. "The witness could be interrogated if there was a statement given under the Section 161." The lawyers also said in the petition that they will move the High Court. After their petition had been rejected, they left the court without interrogating Debra.