SC orders settlement of Mamun money laundering case within 4 months

The Appellate Division has ordered the trial court to settle the money laundering case against BNP Senior Vice Chairman Tarique Rahman’s close friend and business partner Giasuddin Al Mamun within four months.

Mamun’s lawyers have also received permission to re-question six state witnesses in the case by the Anti-Corruption Commission.

A four-member bench, led by the chief justice, made the order on Thursday. It granted an appeal by Mamun’s lawyers against a High Court order that dismissed their petition to re-question the witnesses.

The case is currently pending at the Dhaka Special Judge’s Court – 3. The defence team is currently questioning the ninth witnesses. The next hearing in the case is set for Apr 25.

“The Appellate Division has ordered the trial court to settle the trial within four months,” said ACC lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan.

“They have also granted the defence leave to re-question six of the prosecution’s witnesses.”

The case was filed by ACC Deputy Director Mohammad Ibrahim on Oct 26, 2009 at the Cantonment Police Station.

The case accuses Mamun of taking over Tk 200 million from an individual named Khadiza Islam to be sent to Tarique Rahman in order to receive a work order for a 80MW power plant in the Tongi BSCIC industrial area through Tarique Rahman. The prosecution says the money was then sent to Singapore.

Mamun, who was sentenced to jail in another money laundering case alongside Tarique Rahman, has been in jail for some time.