Bangladesh
Arms Case Papia, husband get 27-year jail term in arms case
Dhaka, October 12: A court has sentenced Shamima Nur Papia and her husband Mofizur Rahman to 20 years in prison in a case filed under the Arms Act.
The court also sentenced them to seven years in prison under another section of the Arms Act.
The judge mentioned in the order that the imprisonment of the two sections will continue at the same time.
Judge KM Imrul Kayesh of the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court pronounced the verdict on Monday (October 12th).
On February 22, RAB arrested four people, including Papia, while they were leaving the country from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
The other arrested are Papia's husband Mofizur Rahman alias Sumon Chowdhury alias Moti Sumon (38), Sabbir Khandaker (29) and Sheikh Tayyiba (22).
Seven passports, Tk 2,12,270 in cash, Tk 25,600 in counterfeit currency and 11,091 US dollars were seized from them.
The same night after the arrest, a raid was carried out on Narsingdi's house and on the morning of February 23 at Hotel Westin in the luxurious presidential suite booked in their name.
They also raided two of their flats in Raushan's Domino Relivo, a luxury building on 28 Indira Road, Farmgate, carrying a foreign pistol, two pistol magazines, 20 rounds of pistol ammunition, five bottles of foreign liquor and cash of Rs 57.41 lakh, five passports and three passports.
RAB seized checks, foreign currency, 10 Visa and ATM cards of different banks.
One case was filed under the Arms Act, one under the Special Powers Act and another under the Special Powers Act at the Airport Police Station in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station.
On June 29, the investigating officer (IO) of the case, RAB sub-inspector Arifuzzaman, filed a chargesheet against Papia and her husband Mofizur in the case under the Arms Act at the Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate's Court.
On August 23, Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge framed charges against Papia and her husband Mofizur.
At that time, they claimed their innocence and expected justice from the court.
Testimony in the case began on August 31.
Of the 12 witnesses in the case, 12 have testified in court.
