Khoka gets 13 yrs for illegal wealth

A Dhaka court yesterday sentenced BNP leader and former city mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka to 13 years in prison for amassing illegal wealth and concealing information in his wealth statement.

It also fined the BNP vice-chairman Tk 10 lakh and Tk 1 lakh on the two charges. If he fails to pay the fine, he will have to spend seven more months in jail.

Judge Abu Ahmed Jomadar of the Special Judge's Court of Dhaka said the jail term will be effective from the day of his surrender or arrest.

The court declared the verdict in absentia after cross-examination of 40 prosecution witnesses in the case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission.

This was the first time a court delivered a judgment in a case against Khoka who has been accused in a dozen of criminal cases.

The court also asked the government to confiscate around Tk 10.05 crore from his bank accounts and a Gulshan building built with ill-gotten gains. The government will also attach three-fourths of his 133.59 acres immovable property, it added. 

Khoka, now in the USA for treatment, was earlier shown fugitive in the case. The court on October 31 last year framed charges against him in absentia.

The ACC had filed the case on April 2, 2008 against Khoka, his wife Ishmat Ara, son Ishrak Hossain and daughter Sarika Sadeque for allegedly accumulating illegal wealth worth over Tk 17.57 crore and concealing information in the BNP leader's wealth statement.

Khoka's wife, son and daughter were accused of assisting him in committing the offence.

The anti-graft body pressed charges against Khoka on July 2, 2008. But Investigating Officer Shamsul Alam dropped the names of Khoka's son and daughter from the charge sheet as their involvement was not found.

The ACC could not press charge against Khoka's wife either as the High Court stayed the investigation against her after she had filed a writ petition with it.

IO Shamsul, also an ACC assistant director, in the charge sheet said Khoka in his wealth statement showed wealth worth Tk 9.97 crore, but the ACC found he had amassed more wealth worth Tk 9.76 crore beyond his known sources of income.

He also acquired illegal wealth worth around Tk 9.65 crore which was concealed in his wealth statement submitted to the ACC, said the charge sheet.

Khoka at one stage moved the High Court challenging the legality of pressing the charge sheet. The HC then stayed the trial proceedings in the case.

The HC on May 20, 2012 vacated the stay order and ordered the lower court to continue with the trial.

'VERDICT POLITICALLY MOTIVATED'

Talking to The Daily Star over the phone, Khoka yesterday said he did not get justice through the verdict.

He claimed the court did not give him enough opportunity to defend himself.

"I had prayed to the court through my lawyer to give me enough time as I am in New York for cancer treatment. But the court didn't allow my lawyer to play his role and sentenced me in a hurry."

He said the court did "injustice" to him though he paid all the applicable taxes to the National Board of Revenue.

"The verdict is politically motivated. It was announced to harass me politically and tarnish my image. I will file an appeal against the verdict with the higher court after consultation with my lawyer," said the BNP vice-chairman.

Meanwhile, BNP spokesperson Asaduzzaman Ripon claimed that the senior party leader didn't get justice in the case and the verdict was "politically motivated". 

He was addressing a press conference at the party's Nayapaltan central office.