Court Correspondent

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (SC) today acquitted BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman and businessman Md Gias Uddin Al Mamun of all the charges in a money laundering case, in which they were sentenced to seven-year imprisonment by the High Court.

"The appeal is allowed," said the short judgment pronounced by a four-member Appellate Division bench headed by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed.

The apex court issued the judgment, allowing Mamun's appeal against the High Court judgment. Lawyers said the apex court judgment would also be applicable for Tarique Rahman, who could not file an appeal against the High Court judgment.

Senior Advocate SM Shahjahan, Barrister Sheikh Mohammad Zakir Hossain, Advocate Jakir Hossain and Advocate Maksud Ullah took part in the hearing for the appeal. In contrast, senior advocate Asif Hossain stood for the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

The anti-graft body filed the case on October 26, 2009, with the Cantonment Police Station. It filed the charge sheet against Tarique Rahman and Mamun on July 6, 2010. Dhaka 3rd Special Judge Court on November 17, 2013, acquitted Tarique Rahman but sentenced Mamun to seven years imprisonment and fined him Taka 40 crore. It also ordered to confiscate Taka 20.41 crore in favour of the state.

The ACC filed an appeal against the lower court judgment, and so did Mamun. The High Court after holding a hearing on the pleas, sentenced Tarique Rahman to seven years imprisonment and fined him Taka 20 crore. It also upheld the lower court judgment against Md Gias Uddin Al Mamun.

Mamun later filed an appeal against the High Court judgment, and the Appellate Division today came up with its verdict, allowing that appeal.