MP Bodi gets 6-month interim bail

The High Court has granted interim bail for six months to Awami League lawmaker from Cox’s Bazar 4 constituency Abdur Rahman Bodi in a corruption case. A single bench of the High Court Justice Ruhul Kuddus passed the order after hearing on his bail petition on Wednesday. On November 2, Judge Md Abu Ahmed Jamadar of the Dhaka’s Special Judge’s Court 3 jailed Bodi for three years in a case filed for concealing wealth information. The court also fined him Tk10 lakh, in default, he would have to serve three more months in jail. Then Bodi challenged it with high court and also filed bail petition. Nasrin Siddique Lina, Bodi's lawyer, said the court has admitted their appeal plea for hearing. The lawmaker, who has earned a bad name for his alleged involvement in smuggling and other criminal activities, was sent to jail after the pronouncement of the lower court verdict. The judge said although the accused showed his wealth worth Tk9.19 crore in his income tax returns (2013-14), on March 20, 2014 he informed the ACC that he along with his wife and children owned movable and immovable properties worth Tk5.35 crore. Therefore, he gave the statement hiding information of his wealth worth Tk3.84 crore. On December 2, 2013, the lawmaker submitted wealth statements to the Election Commission showing his wealth worth Tk10.98 crore, hiding information of wealth worth Tk5.63 crore, said the verdict. MP Bodi was acquitted from the charge of amassing wealth illegally as the prosecution failed to prove the charge during the trial proceedings. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case with Ramna police on August 21, 2014, accusing the legislator of amassing wealth illegally and concealing information in his wealth statement. After being questioned by the ACC officials at that time, Bodi claimed that he was innocent and even vowed to step down if the investigators could prove that he had laundered even a single penny or concealed information about wealth in his election affidavit. During hearing ACC lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan told the court that the ACC will file appeal against his acquittal in wealth concealing charge soon after obtaining certified copy of lower court verdict.