DHAKA,  – A court here today sentenced former State Minister for Home Affairs Lutfozzaman Babar to eight-year imprisonment in a graft case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

Judge Mohammad Shahidul Islam of Dhaka Special Judge Court-7 pronounced the judgement in presence of Babar and later sent him to jail with conviction warrant. Babar was sentenced to three years rigorous imprisonment under section 26 (2) and five-year imprisonment under section 27 (1) of Anti-corruption Commission Act, 2004.

The court also fined him Taka 10 thousand and to suffer three-month more behind bars in default. The court said both the sentences of jail would run concurrently. Earlier on October 4, the court had set today to hand down the verdict as both the prosecution and defence concluded their parts of closing argument on that day.

The court on September 21 read out the charges brought against Babar and testimonies of the prosecution witnesses. The court later asked Babar whether he wants to plead guilty or not. In reply, Babar had pleaded not guilty and demanded justice from the court.

The ACC filed the case against Babar with Ramna Police Station on January 13 in 2008, for amassing illegal wealth of around Taka 7.05 crore. Deputy Assistant Director of the ACC Rupok Kumar Saha on July 16, 2008, filed a charge sheet in the case.

The court on August 12, 2008, indicted Babar in the graft case. Babar has already been convicted and sentenced to death in cases filed over the gruesome grenade attack on an Awami League rally in the capital’s Bangabandhu Avenue on August 21, 2004, and Chattogram 10-truck arms haul.