Suspect bought TV, refrigerator with money ‘looted’ from Prothom Alo, says investigation officer

Defendant’s lawyer says the products were bought before the incident

The investigation officer of the case over the attack on the Prothom Alo office has claimed that one of the suspects used the money looted in the incident to buy a TV and a refrigerator.

The suspect, Naim Islam and his lawyer denied the allegations, saying the two products were purchased before the incident occurred.

After the news of Inqilab Moncho Convenor Sharif Osman bin Hadi’s death spread on Thursday, a group of people attacked and looted the office of the Prothom Alo.

On Sunday, Prothom Alo filed a case against 400 to 500 people under the Special Powers Act and the Anti-Terrorism Act with Dhaka’s Tejgaon Police.

Police then arrested 15 people from different locations.

On Monday, the case’s investigation officer Inspector Abdul Hannan presented them in court and requested their detention in jail.

Quoting Naim, the application said: “Tk 50,000 in cash looted from [Prothom Alo office], along with a refrigerator and a television purchased with the stolen money, have been seized."

Hannan requested that the suspect be detained in jail until the investigation of the case is completed.

The hearing on the bail application of the suspects was held in the court of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Jewel Rana.

Naim’s lawyer Abdullah Azam said, “The claim of him buying a TV and fridge with the looted money is not true. He purchased the products before the incident.

“Due to a lack of time, I cannot submit the documents for the products.”

The court rejected the bail application of the suspects and ordered them to be sent to jail.