Tuesday, February 8, 2011

http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/latest_news.php?nid=28364

Two more witnesses gave depositions on Tuesday against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s son Arafat Rahman Koko and Ismail Hossain Saimon, son of former shipping minister late Akbar Hossain, in a money-laundering case.

Judge Mohammad Mozammel Hossain of the Special Judge’s Court-3 recorded the statements by former attorney general Salauddin Ahmed and Brig Gen (retd) AK Khairuzzaman Lodi and set March 28 for the next hearing.

Salauddin Ahmed told the hearing that he received a series of documents sent from America regarding the siphoning off money by the defendants.

Earlier, three witnesses including the complainant had placed their depositions before the same court against Koko and Saimon.

They have been charged in the case with taking out Tk 23 crore to Singapore.

Salauddin Ahmed, former officer-in-charge of Kafrul Police Station and Kabir Ahmed, personal secretary to Attorney General Mahbubey Alam placed their depositions on January 19.

The same court on January 4 recorded the statement of Mohammad Abu Sayeed, deputy director of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), against the defendants.

In the case statement, the anti-graft body said the accused had laundered money received from China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd and Siemens for helping them win government contracts.

China Harbour got a Tk 351 crore contract to set up New Mooring Container Terminal while Siemens got a contract worth Tk 239 crore to supply and install equipment for Teletalk, the state-owned mobile phone operator.

The same judge on November 30, 2010 framed charges against the duo in their absence and said the trial would continue in absentia.