SC upholds HC verdict to acquit Manju
STAFF REPORTER
The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court yesterday upheld a High Court verdict that scrapped the 13-year jail sentence against environment and forest minister Anwar Hossain Manju in a graft case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission. The four-member bench of the Appellate Division, headed by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha, passed the order after dismissing an appeal, filed by the ACC, challenging the HC verdict. Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) assistant director Sheikh Fayez Alam had filed the case against Manju and his wife, Tasmima Hossain, on October 7, 2007, at Dhanmandi Police Station for allegedly amassing wealth worth around Tk. 2 crore and concealing information from the commission. Later, on March 20, 2008, the ACC pressed charges in court against Manju and his wife. On August 26, 2008, a Dhaka court sentenced Manju to 13 years in jail and slapped a fine of Tk. 10 lakh. In case of default in payment of fine Manju was to remain in jail for one more year. On February 14, 2009, Manju filed an appeal in the High Court, challenging the legality of the trial court verdict. In response to Manjus appeal, the HC on August 10, 2010, scrapped the lower court verdict that had jailed Manju for 13 years. The ACC filed a leave-to-appeal with the Appellate Division in 2012 against the HC verdict.
After hearing the ACCs appeal, the apex court yesterday dismissed the ACC appeal and upheld the HC verdict. Barrister Rokanuddin Mahmud and advocate Ahsanul Karim appeared for Manju, while advocate AKM Fazlul Haq represented the ACC during the appeal hearing.
