BANGLADESH: Former PM's son jailed
Published:Friday | June 24, 2011 | 12:00 AM
DHAKA (AP):
A Bangladesh court yesterday sentenced the fugitive son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia to six years in jail for laundering money taken as bribes from two global companies, a verdict that could trigger violent protests by opposition parties.
Judge Mohammad Mozammel Hossain said in his verdict Arafat Rahman was guilty of smuggling more than 200 million takas (US$2.66 million) to Singapore. The judge also fined Rahman 190 million takas (US$2.53 million) and asked authorities to get the smuggled money returned.
Rahman, the younger son of Zia, was accused of taking bribes from China Harbour Engineering Company Limited and the Bangladesh subsidiary of Germany's industrial giant Siemens AG for helping them win government contracts during his mother's 2001-2006 premiership.
Defence lawyer Sanaullah Mia said the trial was politically motivated. Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party, the main opposition party, did not accept the verdict and said it would demonstrate across the country on Sunday.