Bangladesh
Haji Selim Haji Selim MP's 10-year sentence upheld in High Court
Dhaka, March 10: The High Court has reduced the 13-year imprisonment of Dhaka-7 MP Haji Mohammad Selim to 10 years in a case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on charges of illegal acquisition of assets. At the same time, the court sentenced him to one more year rigorous imprisonment for non-payment of a fine of Tk 10 lakh. However, his three-year sentence was overturned in a court of law on charges of withholding information.
A virtual bench of the High Court comprising Justice Md Moinul Islam Chowdhury and Justice AKM Zahirul Haque pronounced the verdict on Tuesday (March 9).
He has been ordered to surrender within 30 days of the verdict. The High Court has asked the Judicial (Lower) Court to issue an arrest warrant against him if he does not surrender.
The court ruled that the appeal of Haji Mohammad Selim, who was convicted in the trial court, was amended (partial acceptance and partial rejection) and the appeal under section 26 of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004 was accepted. And part of the appeal in 27 (1) of this law was dismissed.
The High Court has fixed March 9 for the verdict after hearing the appeal filed by Haji Selim on February 24. On the appointed day, the relevant virtual bench of the High Court announced the verdict on the appeal filed by MP Haji Mohammad Selim.
On October 24, 2007, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed a case against Haji Selim at Lalbagh Police Station alleging illegal acquisition of assets. He was sentenced to 13 years in prison on April 27, 2008. Besides, a fine of Tk 20 lakh was also imposed.
On October 25, 2009, Haji Selim appealed to the High Court against the verdict. When the High Court quashed his sentence on January 2, 2011, the ACC appealed against the verdict.
