Seven members of the Detective Branch of police were sentenced to 12 years imprisonment yesterday for kidnapping a businessman and taking ransom.

Judge Mohammad Ismail, of Cox's Bazar District Sessions and Judge's Court, handed down the sentence in presence of all seven accused, said Public Prosecutor Faridul Alam.

The court also fined Tk 3 lakh each, in default of which, they would have to serve two more years in jail.

Suspended sub-inspectors Abul Kalam Azad and Moniruzzaman; assistant sub-inspectors Golam Mostafa, Mohammad Firoz and Alauddin; and constables Mostafa Azam and Al Amin were sent to jail after the sentence.

On October 24, 2017, they picked up Abdul Gofur, 32, a businessman in Cox's Bazar town, in plain clothes. They took him in a microbus to Teknaf.

They severely beat him and threaten to kill him in a "crossfire", unless he gives Tk 1 crore ransom.

On the next day, he was released, as his relatives agreed and handed over Tk 17 lakh to a group of DB men.

While negotiating with the abductors, Gafur's relatives disclosed the whole matter to Army personnel at Teknaf's Lomboripara check post in the marine drive area.

The personnel stopped the microbus carrying the DB team at a check post in Lambori area, searched the vehicle, and found Tk 17 lakh.

Following the incident, Abdul Gafur filed a case with Teknaf Police Station. They were later suspended from their duty following that case.

Later, on August 4, 2018, the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) filed a charge sheet in court against the seven DB members after investigating the incident.