ACC appeals against Bodi’s acquittal

“There were sufficient witnesses and evidence against Bodi. The trial court’s decision was not taken according to the laws,” ACC lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan said on Thursday after filing the appeal. On November 2, Judge Md Abu Ahmed Jamadar of the Dhaka’s Special Judge’s Court 3 sentenced Bodi to three years in jail for concealing wealth information. Bodi was also fined Tk10 lakh in the case. He will have to serve three more months in jail if he fails to pay the fine. The Cox’s Bazar MP secured six months’ interim bail from the High Court in the case on Wednesday. The court also stayed the fine order. Bodi, 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.Read More: MP Bodi gets 6-month interim bail