Bangladesh
Jahalam Jahalam Compensation: High Court orders Brac bank to pay Tk15 lakh
Dhaka, October 1: The Bangladesh High Court has ordered the Brac Bank to pay a compensation of Tk15 lakh to Jahalam, a jute mill worker who served jail for three years after being wrongly accused in 26 cases by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
The court has asked the bank to pay the compensaton amout with a month's time after receiving the copy of the verdict.
The bank will also have to submit a written note at the Registrar General's Office of the Supreme Court, a week after making the payment.
In April 2012, the ACC filed a case for embezzling Tk18 crore of Sonali Bank with Dhanmondi police station.
On February 28, 2015, ACC submitted charge sheet against Jahalam. According to the ACC investigation, the fraudsters issued 108 checks from the accounts of three persons including Abu Salek at the cantonment branch of Sonali Bank. The checks were deposited in 13 of the 18 banks through clearing and embezzled Tk 16 crore 46 lakh. BRAC Bank is one of the 18 banks.
Due to the inexperience and errors of the ACC officials, Jahalam was arrested in place of the real accused Salek, and jailed for three years.
The High Court has warned the ACC to not repeat such a mistake in the future.
Brac Bank was penalised as two of its officials identified Jahalam as Salek, thereby forcing him to serve a jail term.
He was freed from jail on February 4, 2019 after the High Court acquitted him in 26 cases in which charges had been pressed.
