AL leader Maya gets 13 years on graft charges

Dhaka, Feb 14 (bdprem.com)—A Dhaka court Thursday sentenced Awami League leader Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya to 13 years' imprisonment for graft. Your Ad Here Judge Md Ashraf Hossain of Special Judge's Court-5 sentenced the accused in absentia, and also handed down a Tk 5 crore fine or another year in jail on failure to pay. The sentence will come into effect on the day of Maya's surrender or arrest. The court acquitted Maya's wife Parveen Chowdhury, two sons Sajedul Hossain Chowdhury and Rashedul Hossain Chowdhury, and Sajed's wife Subarna Chowdhury, as allegations against them of abetting the accused could not be substantiated. The court also ordered assets worth Tk 5.9 crore amassed illegally by the Dhaka City AL leader to be confiscated by the state. ACC assistant director Nurul Alam filed the corruption case with Sutrapur Police Station on June 13, 2007, against seven members of Maya's family. A charge sheet was submitted on Oct 25 against five of them, leaving out Maya's son Rifat Sayeed Chowdhury and Rashed's wife Farhana Chowdhury. The ACC claimed that during his tenure as minister, Maya with the help of family members amassed assets worth Tk 5.9 crore beyond his known sources of income and suppressed information regarding another Tk 6.29 crore. Trial proceedings began with charge framing on Nov 27 Forty witnesses testified for the ACC during trial. Closing arguments concluded on Feb 4, when the court set the verdict date.