A Dhaka court yesterday sentenced former state minister for home affairs Lutfozzaman Babar to eight years’ imprisonment in a corruption case.

Judge Md Shahidul Islam of Special Judge’s Court-7 of Dhaka delivered the verdict in front of Babar in a packed courtroom.

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He was sentenced to five years for amassing wealth illegally and another three years for concealing information on it, but the punishment will run concurrently, the judge said.

The judge observed that being a former lawmaker and a former state minister for home affairs, Babar concealed information and amassed wealth beyond known sources. So, it is reasonable to punish him.

Babar was also fined Tk 10,000, in default of which he will have to serve another three months in jail.

The judge also said Babar’s sentencing in the case would be adjusted with his time in custody. He has been in custody since 2007 in connection with different cases.

When the verdict was read out yesterday, Babar was in the dock. He looked calm.

“Though the imprisonment period in this case is over, I will still appeal against the verdict because it labels me a criminal,” Babar told journalists after the verdict was pronounced.

Seven prosecution witnesses gave deposition before the court in the case.

The Anti-Corruption Commission had filed the case with the capital’s Ramna Model Police Station on January 13, 2008 against Babar for amassing illegal wealth worth Tk 7.591 crore.

ACC Deputy Director Rupok Kumar Saha, also the investigation officer of the case, submitted the charge sheet to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court of Dhaka on July 16, 2008.

The trial court accepted the charges, pressed against Babar, on July 23 the same year. It framed charges against him on August 12, 2008.

Later, Babar filed a writ petition with the High Court, challenging the legality of the lower court’s order.

On March 17 in 2017, a High Court bench heard the matter and lifted a stay order. It asked the lower court to finish the trial proceedings in six months.

Earlier on October 30 of 2007, Babar was handed 17 years’ rigorous imprisonment for possessing illegal firearms and ammunition found at his Gulshan residence in the capital.

Babar was handed death sentence in the 10-truck arms haul and the August 21 grenade attack cases.



Illegal Wealth: Babar jailed for 8 years
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