For all latest news, follow The Financial Express Google News channel.
A Dhaka court has acquitted BNP National Standing Committee Member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy in a case over illegal acquisition of assets filed 16 years ago.
The court of Dhaka Special Judge Kamrul Hasan Khan delivered its verdict on Sunday, clearing Gayeshwar as the charges against him were not proven.
Alhaz Borhan Uddin, Gayeshwar’s lawyer, confirmed the decision, reports bdnews24.com.
Gayeshwar appeared in court on Sunday morning for the verdict.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and the defence had completed their arguments in the case on Aug 19. The court then set Aug 28 for the verdict. The verdict was then deferred several times.
According to the case details, Gayeshwar showed two houses in his wealth statement, including a six-storey house in Dhaka's Rayerbazar, which cost Tk 4 million to construct, and a house built on his ancestral land in Keraniganj at a cost of Tk 1.5 million.
The ACC said these figures were Tk 2.53 million lower than the construction estimates prepared by the Public Works Department and flagged the discrepancy as wealth accumulated from beyond known sources of income.
In addition, electronic goods worth Tk 58,600 were allegedly found in Gayeshwar’s house, which were outside his declared and known sources of income.
According to the case dossier, the BNP leader illegally grabbed Tk 26.1 million from Abdul Monem Limited and Reza Construction, by using his influence as the leader of the ruling party in 2004-2005. His total wealth stemming from house construction cost, electronic goods and money accumulated by using influence stands at Tk 28.6 million.
The wealth and assets were accumulated illicitly, the case documents said.
After the investigation, Mofidul filed a charge sheet in court on Jul 5, 2009. The trial began with the indictment of Gayeshwar on Feb 4, 2010. During the trial, 29 out of 47 witnesses testified.