Ex-MP Selim gets 7 years for extortion

Dhaka, May 27 (bdnews24.com)—A Dhaka court sentenced former BNP lawmaker MAH Selim to seven years in jail Tuesday. Judge Nigar Sultana, of Metropolitan Assistant Sessions Judge's Court-4, also finewd the ex-MP Tk 50,000 or another two months in prison in case of failure to pay the sum. Roads and Highways contractor Jahidul Islam Faruque filed the extortion case against 'Silver' Selim on June 10, 2007. Selim was said to have demanded and received Tk 12 lakh from Faruque in 2006, in exchange for awarding him a contract to develop Ghuria rural market in Kachua, Bagerhat. Sixteen witnesses gave depositions in the trial. There have been 12 cases of extortion and one involving embezzlement of funds filed against the former MP from Bagerhat. Tuesday's is the first verdict against him to date. Selim was arrested on March 7, 2007. bdnews24.com/pb/ra/wz/rah/1424 hours