Case Against Koko
Hearing fixed on Sept 15
A Dhaka court yesterday fixed September 15 for hearing on the petition filed by Bangladesh Bank to bring back the money allegedly siphoned off to Singapore by Arafat Rahman Koko, youngest son of Opposition Leader Khaleda Zia.
The co-accused in the case is Ismail Hossain Saimon, son of former shipping minister late Akbar Hossain.
Judge (In charge) Mohammad Ismail Hossain of the Senior Special Judge's Court, Dhaka passed the order after Koko's lawyer submitted a petition seeking adjournment of the hearing.
On June 29 this year, Attorney General Mahbubey Alam sent letters to the governor of Bangladesh Bank and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) chairman asking them to take necessary steps for bringing the money laundered by Koko and Saimon to Singapore.
In response to the letters, Deputy Governor of Bangladesh Bank Ziaul Hasan Siddique on July 12 this year submitted the petition with the same court seeking its permission to bring back the money.
Koko was arrested on September 2, 2007 in connection with the Gatco graft case and later released on parole for treatment abroad while Saimon has been absconding after case was filed.
The ACC filed the case against Koko on March 17 in 2009 under the money laundering prevention Act on charge of siphoning off Tk 19.7 crore to Singapore.
The ACC pressed charges against Koko and Saimon on November 12 last year.
On November 15, 2009 the court accepted the charge sheet against Koko and Saimon.
KOKO'S TAX EVASION CASE
The same court also fixed October 6 for hearing on charge framing against Koko in connection with a tax evasion case.
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) filed the case against Koko on March 1 for evading income tax on his income of Tk 52.39 lakh between 2002-2003 and 2006-2007 fiscal years.
Koko, who is now abroad for treatment, repeatedly provided false information about his real income and expenditures, alleged the NBR statement.
Four other cases, including a graft and an extortion case, were also filed against him during the time when he was in jail.
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