A special anti-graft court yesterday sentenced Giasuddin Al Mamun, a controversial businessman and close friend of former prime minister Khaleda Zia's son Tarique Rahman, to three years' imprisonment for not submitting wealth statement to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). This is the second judgment by the special courts set up at the MP Hostel in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the capital for quick disposal of the corruption cases. "The sentence shall take effect at once," said Fifth Special Court Judge Ashraf Hossain.After the conviction, Mamun's counsel barrister AKM Fakhrul Islam said, "We will file an appeal in the High Court against the verdict."
The same judge's court on May 21 gave first judgement of the special court and sentenced Harris Chowdhury, political secretary to former prime minister Khaleda Zia, to three years' imprisonment for not submitting his wealth statement to the ACC. Mamun, now in jail, was produced before the court yesterday while the judge read out the written judgment. Mamun, who was shown arrested on March 26 in an extortion case, told the special court on May 29 that he could not submit his wealth statement in time as he was in the joint forces' custody from January 31 to March 26.