Khoka jailed for 10 years in graft case

A Dhaka court yesterday sentenced four people, including BNP leader Sadek Hossain Khoka, to 10 years in jail in a case filed for alleged corruption in the leasing of a multi-storied car park in the city's Banani area.

Khoka, who is also a former mayor of the undivided Dhaka city corporation, was also fined Tk. 20 lakh, while the  others were fined Tk. 10 lakh each.

The other accused are: Abdul Baten, president of the DCC super market in Banani, Mahmudul Hassan Azad, general secretary of the market, and AHM Tareque, manager of the market’s parking lot.

Khoka, who is currently in London, was shown to be a fugitive in the case, while the other three are now on bail.

Judge Mizanur Rahman Khan, special judge for Dhaka division, handed down the sentence in the absence of the convicts.

Earlier, on November 29, 2015, a court had framed charges against the BNP leader and three others in the case.

On June 24, 2015, a lower court issued a warrant for Khoka’s arrest as he did not appear before it during the hearing on that day.

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) deputy director Nur Hossain, who is also the investigating officer of the case, submitted a charge-sheet against the four accused on November 11, 2012.

On February 15, 2012, then ACC assistant director, M Mahbubul Alam, filed the case with Shahbagh police station on the charge of monetary misappropriation amounting to Tk. 30.82 lakh from the car parking project.

According to the prosecution, the DCC had invited bids in 2003 to lease out the Banani Unique complex’s basement as a car park.

The DCC had been deprived of over Tk 30.82 lakh from February 2003 to February 2011, as the then mayor, Khoka, along with the other accused, had stayed the tender process.

Khoka jailed for 10 years in graft case

A Dhaka court yesterday sentenced four people, including BNP leader Sadek Hossain Khoka, to 10 years in jail in a case filed for alleged corruption in the leasing of a multi-storied car park in the citys Banani area. Khoka, who is also a former mayor of the undivided Dhaka city corporation, was also fined Tk. 20 lakh, while the others were fined Tk. 10 lakh each. The other accused are: Abdul Baten, president of the DCC super market in Banani, Mahmudul Hassan Azad, general secretary of the market, and AHM Tareque, manager of the markets parking lot. Khoka, who is currently in London, was shown to be a fugitive in the case, while the other three are now on bail. Judge Mizanur Rahman Khan, special judge for Dhaka division, handed down the sentence in the absence of the convicts. Earlier, on November 29, 2015, a court had framed charges against the BNP leader and three others in the case. On June 24, 2015, a lower court issued a warrant for Khokas arrest as he did not appear before it during the hearing on that day. Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) deputy director Nur Hossain, who is also the investigating officer of the case, submitted a charge-sheet against the four accused on November 11, 2012. On February 15, 2012, then ACC assistant director, M Mahbubul Alam, filed the case with Shahbagh police station on the charge of monetary misappropriation amounting to Tk. 30.82 lakh from the car parking project. According to the prosecution, the DCC had invited bids in 2003 to lease out the Banani Unique complexs basement as a car park. The DCC had been deprived of over Tk 30.82 lakh from February 2003 to February 2011, as the then mayor, Khoka, along with the other accused, had stayed the tender process.