A Dhaka court has sentenced five people, including two siblings, to different jail terms in the first ever case filed over the seizure of yaba in the country.
Judge SM Ershadul Alam of the Environment Appeal Court (Special Sessions Court) delivered the verdict on Thursday, reports Bangla Tribune.
The convicts are Shafiqul Islam alias Jewel, his brother Rafiqul Islam, Shamsul Islam, Somnath Saha alias Bappi, and Emran Haque.
Among them, Shafiqul Islam has been sentenced to life imprisonment and fined Tk10,000 and six months imprisonment in lieu of non-payment of the fine.
In addition, the court also sentenced him to three years of rigorous imprisonment under another section of the Narcotics Control Act.
The other four convicts have been sentenced to three years of rigorous imprisonment. The court also fined them Tk2,000 each and three more months imprisonment for non-payment.
Among them, Jewel and Rafiqul Islam were present at the court when the verdict was pronounced. The other three are currently on the run.
At the same time, the court also ordered the authorities to confiscate Tk2,39,800, procured from the sale of yaba and two mobile phone sets.
On December 18, 2002, the Department of Narcotics Control conducted a raid at Shafiqul Islam’s house in the capital’s Niketan area and seized yaba, 400 grams of drug tetrahydrocannabinol, three heroin intake pipes, two pieces of Adegra tablets, 120 pieces of morphine and amphetamine, Tk2,39,800 in cash and two mobile sets.
Enamul Haque, an inspector of the Department of Narcotics Control, filed a case with Gulshan police station in this regard.
He investigated the case and filed a charge sheet on January 14, 2003. On April 5, 2010, the court framed charges against the five accused.