Former Dhaka mayor and senior BNP Vice-Chairman Sadeque Hossain Khoka was sentenced to 13 years’ imprisonment in a case filed for amassing wealth illegally and concealing information.
After examining records and evidences of the case, Judge Abu Ahmed Jamadar of the Dhaka’s Special Judge’s Court 3 pronounced the verdict in absence of Khoka, now staying in the USA.
The court sentenced him to 10 years’ jail under section 27 (1) of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2004 for making wealth through unfair means and three years’ jail under section 26 (2) of the same law for concealing information in his wealth statement.
The punishment will be effective from the day of his surrender or arrest, the judge said after issuing arrest warrant against the fugitive.
The judge in his observation said: “Khoka, who was a former lawmaker, minister and Dhaka city mayor, amassed wealth illegally and did not surrender before the trial court despite facing High Court directives for surrender in the case.
“Khoka did not show respect to the higher court order, which the court do not expect from such a person.”
The court also fined Khoka Tk10 lakh, in default, to serve six months more imprisonment and Tk1 lakh, in default, to server one month more imprisonment.
During the delivery of the judgement, the court also asked the government to confiscate Tk10 crore and a building in Gulshan which Khoka had acquired illegally. The government will also attach three-fourths of his around 54 hectares of immovable property, the judge added.
Khoka was indicted in the case in absentia on October 31 last year. A total of 40 prosecution witnesses out of 43 gave depositions before the court.
He is facing several other cases filed over instigating violence and sedition.
On April 2, 2008, the ACC filed the case against Khoka, his wife Ismat Ara, son Ishrak Hossain and daughter Sarika Sadeque for allegedly accumulating wealth worth over Tk17.57 crore, which does not match with his actual income, and concealing the information about his wealth.
The charge sheet was submitted against Khoka and his wife on July 1, 2008. The investigator dropped the names of Khoka’s son and daughter as their involvement was not proven during the investigation.
After the submission of the charge sheet, Khoka challenged its legality with the High Court. The court then stayed the trial proceedings. On May 20, 2012, the High Court vacated the stay order and ordered the lower court to continue the trial. However, the High Court stayed the case proceedings against Khoka’s wife.
Expressing disappointment over the verdict, Mohsin Miah, a counsel of Khoka, said that freedom fighter Khoka had gone to the USA for treatment after taking permission from the High Court. But the trial court conducted the trial in his absence.
“It is not a good practice. We will file a petition against the judgement with the higher court,” he added.
