Crime & Punishment, No14 - Shajahan Omar & Family

Shajahan Omar and Gong!

A special court yesterday sentenced BNP leader and former state minister for law Barrister Shahjahan Omar to 13 years' imprisonment for amassing wealth illegally and concealing information on his wealth to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). Judge Khondker Kamal Uzzaman of the Special Judge Court-9, housed at Jatiya Sangsad Complex, also fined him Tk 10 lakh, in default to suffer one year more in prison. The court also sentenced his wife Mehjabin Farzana to three years' imprisonment for assisting her husband in committing corruption. At the same time, the court fined her Tk 5 lakh, in default, to suffer six more months in prison. The court ordered confiscation of Shahjahan Omar's property worth Tk 2.06 crore to the state coffers, which he earned illegally. Both Shahjahan Omar and his wife Mehjabin Farzana are absconding. "The sentences will come into effect after his arrest or surrender to the court, say's the court order.

The court also acquitted Shahjahan Omar's son Adnan Omar as the charges brought against him could not be proved. ACC assistant director Sheikh Mesbahuddin filed the case against the convicts with the Gulshan Police Station of the city on September 27 last year. In the FIR of the case it was stated that the accused concealed the information of wealth worth Tk 46.18 lakh in their wealth statement submitted to the ACC. Besides, they amassed wealth worth Tk 2.06 crore through illegal means.

Meanwhile, another special court jailed former Awami League MP Makbul Hossain's son Masudur Rahman for 13 years for similar charge. He was also tried in absentia. Judge Sirajul Islam also fined him Tk 10 lakh in default of to suffer one year more in jail. The court ordered confiscation of his property worth over five crore. On May 6 a special court sentenced Makbul to 13 years imprisonment for amassing wealth illegally and concealing information about his wealth. His wife Fatema Tahera Khanom was also jailed for three years for aiding and abetting her husband in protecting the ill-gotten property.