Arms case against Papia, her husband transferred to Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court

The arms case against Jubo Mohila League's expelled leader Shamima Nur Papia and her husband Mofizur Rahman has been transferred to Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court for trial.

Chief Metropolitan Magistrate A M Zulfikar Hayat today sent the case to the sessions judge's court for its next course of action, court sources said.

Earlier on June 29, Rab Sub-inspector Arifuzzaman, who is also the investigation officer (IO) of the case, submitted the charge sheet against the couple to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court of Dhaka.

In the charge sheet, the IO said a total of 12 people have been made witnesses, the charges brought against the couple were primarily proven and they should be brought under trial in this connection.

Rab-1 arrested Papia, her husband -- a former Chhatra League leader -- and their two accomplices from Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on February 22 when they were trying to leave the country.

The elite force members recovered seven passports, 2, 12,270, fake notes worth Tk 25,600, $11,481, 420 Sri Lankan rupees, 301 Indian rupees and two debit cards from their possession.

Rab later raided Papia's flats in Farmgate and recovered a foreign-made pistol, two magazines, 20 bullets, five bottles of foreign-made liquor, Tk 58,41,000 cash, credit and debit cards of different banks.

Later three cases were filed--two with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station under the Arms and the Special Powers Acts while another with Biman Bandar Police Station under the Special Powers Act- 1974.

On February 24, Papia and her husband were placed on a 15-day remand each in three cases after they were produced before two separate Dhaka Courts.

Their accomplices – Sabbir Khondaker, 29, and Sheikh Taiyaba, 22-- were placed on a five-day remand in a case filed with Biman Bandar Police Station.

According to the remand prayers, the investigation officers said the accused amassed considerable wealth through business of illegal weapons, drugs trade, smuggling, trading of fake currencies, extortion, lobbying and land trade.

Earlier on August 4, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed a case against Papia and her husband for amassing about Tk 6.24 crore illegally.