Thu, May 5th, 2011 4:02 pm BdST

http://www.bdnews24.com/details.php?id=194927&cid=2

Dhaka, May 5 (bdnews24.com)—The money laundering case against Tarique Rahman, elder son of former prime minister Khaleda Zia, has been admitted for trial.

Judge Zahurul Haque of Dhaka's Senior Special Judge's Court on Thursday took the case into cognisance after a hearing.

The court also set May 19 for framing of the charges against Tarique and his business partner Giasuddin Al Mamun.

The trial will continue under the 2002 Money Laundering Act, not under the revised one of 2009.

Anti-Corruption Commission official Mohammad Ibrahim filed the case against Tarique and Mamun on Oct 26, 2009. The antigraft agency pressed charges in the court on July 6 last year.

According to the case statement, Tarique and his business associate channelled funds worth over Tk 204 million out to Singapore between 2003 and 2007.

Attorney general Mahbubey Alam argued for the state while barrister Rafique-ul Haque presented the defendants' case.

After his arrest on Mar 7, 2007 during the state of emergency, Tarique had secured bail and flew to London with his family for medical treatment on Sep 11,2008. He has since been living there.

The BNP senior vice-chairman has 14 cases, filed for corruption and extortion, against him.

Mamun is currently behind bars.

At the hearing, barrister Rafique opposed the Appellate Division ruling that the trial be held under the 2002 law.

He argued: "Since the Anti-Corruption Commission did not exist at the time, the filing of the case was also beyond its jurisdiction. Bangladesh Bank could do that."

He also asked for an adjournment on the cognisance hearing.

"A review petition has been filed on our behalf as the Appellate Division did not give any specific direction on how the trial will continue."

The attorney general and ACC lawyer Mosharraf Hossain Kajol protested Rafique's statement. They said there was no bar taking the case into cognisance even though the review petition was not disposed of.

The court after the hearing told the defence: "You've taken extensions several times on the issue. Moreover, there's no stay order from higher court."