Graft: Verdict on Tarique’s acquittal tomorrow

The verdict on an appeal filed against acquittal of BNP Senior Vice Chairman Tarique Rahman in a money laundering case will be delivered tomorrow.

Also, verdict of the appeal plea filed by Tarique's friend Giasuddin Al Mamun, against his conviction that sentenced him to seven years in the case, will be delivered.

The High Court bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Amir Hossain fixed the date today after it concluded hearing on the appeals from all quarters on June 16.

On that day, the High Court had left the verdict of the two appeals, of Mamun and against Tarique, waiting to be announced any day, Anti-Corruption Commission lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan told The Daily Star this morning.

The anti-graft body filed the case against Tarique and Mamun in October, 2009 for siphoning off the money to Singapore between 2003 and 2007.

On November 17, 2013, a Dhaka court acquitted Tarique and sentenced Mamun to seven years' imprisonment and fined him Tk 40 crore in the case.

Later the ACC appealed to the HC, challenging Tarique's acquittal and the HC on January 19, 2014 ordered Tarique to surrender before the trial court. But, he did not surrender.

The money laundering case is one of the 16 cases, including the August 21 grenade attack cases, filed against Tarique. He was arrested on March 7, 2007 during a crackdown by a military-backed caretaker government.

On parole, Tarique went to London in September, 2008 for treatment and has been living there since then. Mamun is now in jail.