5 Indians jailed in gold smuggling case

A Jessore court yesterday sentenced five Indian nationals to three years imprisonment in a gold smuggling case.

The convicts are Rohit Ashok, Bijoy Kumar, Kamol, Ram Kumar Golabmal and Rakesh Laxman. They hail from different areas of Nagpur and Ahmedabad.

Judge Almas Hossain Mridha of Additional District and Sessions Judge's Court delivered the verdict in the afternoon.

The court also fined the convicts Tk 10 thousand. In default, they are to suffer another month in jail.

According to the prosecution, a team of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), acting on a tip-off, intercepted a Jessore-bound BRTC bus from Benapole in Pulerhat area and arrested the five on June 22, 2014.

The law enforcers seized 36 gold bars weighing around 4kg and worth around Tk 2.2 crore from their possession.

Havildar Azizul Haque of BGB 26 Battalion filed a case with Sadar Police Station.

After investigation, Sub-inspector Shahinur Rahman, also the investigation officer (IO) of the case, submitted the charge sheet accusing the five.