The plaintiffs in the infamous schoolgirl disappearance case in Narayanganj have alleged that they have been offered back the money they previously had given as a bribe by Si Shamim, the prime suspect of the case.
“Sub-Inspector Shamim Al Mamun of Narayanganj Sadar police station, the former investigation officer of the case, has tried to return the money he took from us forcefully,” claimed Amjad Hossain and Sharmin, both plaintiffs in the case, on Thursday.
However, he has been closed and was attached to the district’s police lines on Wednesday, confirmed police sources.
Sharmin Begum, wife of Khalil, one of the persons falsely accused in the girl’s disappearance case, claimed that SI Shamim had demanded that the family pay him Tk7,000, failing which he would torture her husband to death in police custody.
“However, as the investigation against him is on, he returned Tk6,000 to my brother and also issued a threat that my family should not go ahead with the case.
“He also told me if I revealed the issue of the money or the incident, my husband might never get released from jail,” said Sharmin.
Agreeing with her, Amjad Hossain, said: “Shamim repeatedly tried to return the bribe he took earlier from me. I do not want my money back. I want justice for my innocent boy.”
Asked about the incident, Md Asaduzzaman, officer-in-charge of Sadar police station, said: “We cannot comment in this regard as it is a personal matter of the former IO. If we receive any complaint we will surely take legal action against him.”
Sub-inspector (SI) Shamim Al Mamun has been closed after allegations were made that he had tortured the accused in remand and forced them to make confessional statements in court on Wednesday, confirmed the district’s Superintendent of Police Jayedul Alam.
On August 25, the father of the girl sought the release of the three accused persons who are in jail in connection with an abduction case filed over his daughter's disappearance, as he had got his daughter back alive the previous day.
On the same day, a press briefing by the police noted that the girl had not been raped or murdered. She was found well in health and married to her alleged boyfriend Iqbal. They had also started living in a rented house in Bandar Kushiyara area.
The case took an interesting turn when the three suspects in the incident made confessional statements before the court, prompting questions about the integrity of the investigation, said a police source seeking anonymity.
Meanwhile, the family members of the accused have been claiming that policemen led by SI Shamim had beaten their sons in remand and forced them to make their confessional statements. Police, however, denied the allegation.
