A Dhaka court yesterday completed the Investigation Officer’s cross-examination in the money-laundering case against BNP Senior Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman and his friend, businessman Giasuddin-Al-Mamun.
The court has heard 13 prosecution witnesses so far in the case.
Dhaka Special Judge 3 Md Motaher Hosain recorded the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Deputy Director and Investigation Officer Mohammad Ibrahim’s cross-examination and fixed October 27 for the examination of the accused under section 342 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
Defence counsel Md Sanaullah Miah told the Dhaka Tribune that the defence would prepare a list of 25 people to act as defence witness.
Defence counsels Md Sanaullah Miah and Masud Ahamed Talukder cross-examined Mohammad Ibrahim. Giasuddin-Al-Mamun was present before the court for the cross-examination.
During cross-examination, the ACC’s lawyers and defence lawyers engaged in a row. The defence lawyers filed a petition for the adjournment of the cross-examination, which the court rejected.
According to case details, the ACC filed the case against Tarique and Mamun with Dhaka Cantonment police station on October 26, 2009, accusing the duo of “siphoning off Tk204.1m to Singapore” between 2003 and 2007.
The large sum of money was allegedly taken by Mamun as a bribe from Khadiza Islam, director of Nirman Construction Ltd, after he helped her get a contract for the installation of an 80MW power plant at Tongi.
On July 6, 2010, The ACC submitted the charge sheet of the case to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court in Dhaka after investigating the claims.
On August 8 last year, the court indicted Tarique and Mamun under the Money Laundering Act 2002 and issued an arrest warrant against Tarique.
Mamun allegedly deposited the money into the Capital Street Branch of Singapore’s City Bank.
