Falu acquitted in graft case

A Dhaka court today acquitted former BNP lawmaker Mosaddek Ali Falu in a case filed on charges of illegally acquiring wealth worth about Tk 14.95 crore and concealing information about his property worth Tk 4.57 crore.

Judge Rezaul Karim of Dhaka's Special Judge Court-10 delivered the verdict in presence of Falu, a former personal secretary to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia who was on bail, at the courtroom.

In the judgment, the judge said as the prosecution failed to prove the charges brought against Falu, he was acquitted of the charges.

Earlier, the prosecution and defence completed their arguments, and the court recorded statements from 12 prosecution witnesses, including the complainant in the case.

The case was filed on July 8, 2008, against Falu and his wife Mahbuba Sultana with Motijheel Police Station.

ACC Assistant Director Md Jahangir Alam, also the investigation officer, submitted the charge sheet against the couple on February 14, 2008.

On January 19, 2012, the High Court quashed the trial proceedings following a writ petition filed by the accused.

The court also declared that the notice issued by the anti-graft body asking Falu -- also the chairman of NTV -- to submit his wealth statement was illegal, as it was sent to him while he was in jail in 2007.

Around three years after the HC order, the Supreme Court, on August 27, 2015, cleared the way for the lower court to continue trial proceedings against Falu. The SC, however, quashed the trial proceedings against his wife.

Following the SC order, the trial court framed charges against Falu in absentia on August 27, 2018.

Earlier, on April 13, another Dhaka court acquitted Falu in a case filed on charges of acquiring Tk 17.86 crore in wealth beyond known sources of income and concealing information of Tk 35.78 crore to the Anti-Corruption Commission.

On November 14 last year, another Dhaka court discharged Falu and two others from a case involving the alleged siphoning of Tk 183.92 crore to Dubai.