Tax Evasion Case Against Koko
Charge framing hearing adjourned
A Dhaka court yesterday adjourned the hearing on charge framing against Arafat Rahman Koko, son of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, for the 17th time, in a tax evasion case and warned his counsel against further extension prayers.
Judge Mohammad Zohurul Haque of the Senior Special Judges' Court adjourned the hearing until February 6 and asked Koko's counsel Sanaullah Miah not to file any further time petitions.
The court had already deferred the hearing 16 times on excuses that Koko's lawyer could not bring any order on the rule issued from the High Court (HC).
The defendant's counsel must submit the HC order by February 6, otherwise, charge will be framed against Koko, the judge said in the order.
In the petition, Koko's cousel said the HC on June 9 last year issued a rule upon the government to explain why the proceedings of the case should not be declared illegal after filing a writ with the HC challenging the legality of the case.
The hearing on the rule is still pending which is why he prayed for an adjournment of the hearing, the lawyer said.
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) on March 1 last year filed the case against Koko for evading tax on his income of Tk 52.39 lakh for fiscal years from 2002-2003 to 2006-2007.
Koko, who was released on parole and is now abroad for treatment, has repeatedly been providing false information about his real income and expenditure, alleged the NBR statement.
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