BANGLADESH

A Dhaka court on Tuesday took into cognisance the money-laundering charges against businessman Giasuddin Al Mamun.

After scrutinising the case dockets and other relevant documents, Judge Md Jahurul Haque of the Senior Special Judge’s Court passed the order in the morning.

During the hearing, Mamun, now in custody, was present in the dock.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on April 29 pressed the charges against Mamun bringing allegation that he siphoned off 4,18,853 British pounds to the United Kingdom.

On September 22 last year, the ACC filed the case with Cantonment Police Station against Mamun, a business partner of BNP chief Khaleda Zia's elder son Tarique Rahman.

According to First Information Report (FIR), Mamun opened two accounts with a London branch of NatWest Bank and laundered the money.

Of the total amount, 2,14,356 pounds was found in one of the accounts. The money was deposited between July 2003 and January 2005.

M Shahzad Ali, owner of Bangladesh Telecom, had deposited 17,286 pounds in November 2004 and his wife M Tahmina Ali deposited 27,323, pounds to the account.

A sum of 2,04,497 pounds was found in the other account of Mamun. The money was deposited there between March 2003, and October 2006.

Mamun did not disclose the sources of this account though he was asked to explain in two letters sent to him at Kashimpur Central Jail, the FIR added.

Trial of another money laundering case filed against Mamun and Tarique is going on with the Special Judge Court-3 of Dhaka.

Mamun, who stands accused in 13 other cases, has already been convicted and sentenced to 20 years in jail in three cases, two of which were for corruption.