A Dhaka court today found former state minister for home -- during the BNP government -- Lutfozzaman Babar guilty and sentenced him to eight years' imprisonment for amassing illegal wealth worth Tk 7.5 crore.
Judge Md Shahidul Islam of Special Judge Court-7 handed down the sentence, in Babar's presence, in the courtroom.
In the judgment, the judge said the prosecution was able to prove the charges brought against Babar undoubtedly and he was given the highest punishment mentioned in the Anti-Corruption Commission Act.
Before the verdict, Babar was taken to the court from jail.
Earlier, the prosecution and defence completed their arguments and the court recorded statements of seven prosecution witnesses.
Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case with Ramna Model Police Station on January 13, 2008 against Babar for amassing illegal wealth worth Tk 7.5 crore.
ACC Deputy Director Rupok Kumar Saha, also the investigation officer of the case, submitted the charge sheet against Babar to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court of Dhaka on July 16, 2008.
The trial court accepted the charges against Babar on July 23, the same year. The court framed charges against him on August 12 of 2008.
Following order of framing charge, Babar filed a writ petition with the High Court challenging the legality of the lower court.
After the hearing, the HC stayed the trial proceedings of the case and issued a rule asking ACC and the government to explain why the case proceedings against Babar should not be scrapped.
On March 17 of 2017, the High Court bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Shahidul Karim heard the matter and lifted the stay order and asked the lower court to finish the trial proceedings in six months.
Babar was sentenced to 17 years' rigorous imprisonment on October 30, 2007 for possessing illegal firearms and ammunition.
He was also sentenced to death in the 10-truck arms haul and August 21 grenade attack cases.
Babar was elected to parliament twice from Netrokona-4 constituency during 1991-1996 and 2001-2006. He was appointed State Minister for Home Affairs as the youngest member of the Khaleda Zia Cabinet in 2001.
