A Dhaka court has sentenced Jubo League leader Ismail Chowdhury Samrat to 20 years imprisonment under two separate charges in a case over illegal wealth and money laundering.
Judge Md. Zakaria Hossain of Dhaka Special Judge Court-6 delivered the verdict on Wednesday, according to the Bench Assistant Fakir Zahidul Islam of the court.
He said Samrat was sentenced to 10 years in prison and fined Tk 10 lakh for acquiring illegal assets. In default of payment, he will have to serve an additional six months in jail.
He was also sentenced to another 10 years in prison and fined Tk 10 lakh for money laundering. Failure to pay this fine will result in an additional six months imprisonment. The court further ordered that the illegally acquired assets be confiscated in favor of the state.
The judge directed that the two sentences will run consecutively, meaning Samrat will have to serve a total of 20 years in prison.
As Samrat is currently absconding, the court has issued a warrant for his arrest.
The case was filed on November 12, 2019, by Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Deputy Director Jahangir Alam, alleging that Samrat acquired illegal assets worth Tk 2,94,80,087 and committed money laundering. The same ACC official also conducted the investigation. The charge sheet was submitted to the court on November 26, 2020.
Earlier, on September 18, 2019, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) conducted a raid in the Motijheel club area of Dhaka, exposing illegal casino operations. Following the raid, Samrat went into hiding.
On October 7, RAB arrested Samrat and his associate Enamul Haque Arman from Chauddagram in Cumilla. Later that day, RAB conducted a raid at Samrat’s office at Bhuiyan Trade Center in Kakrail.
After nearly five hours of operation, RAB reported recovering a foreign-made pistol with bullets, 1,160 yaba tablets, 19 bottles of foreign liquor, two kangaroo skins, and electric devices allegedly used for torture.
Due to the recovery of kangaroo skins, a mobile court immediately sentenced Samrat to six months in prison under the Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act ( বন্যপ্রাণী (সংরক্ষণ ও নিরাপত্তা) আইন, ২০১২). Additionally, two cases were filed against him at Ramna Police Station under the Narcotics Control Act and the Arms Act.
Between April 10 and May 11, 2022, Samrat secured bail in four cases and was released after spending 31 months in jail.
Following political changes, on July 17 last year, the court framed charges against Samrat in the illegal wealth case and ordered the trial to begin. His bail was cancelled and an arrest warrant was issued.
On February 2, the court concluded the recording of witness testimonies in the case. All 21 witnesses listed in the charge sheet testified before the court. The date for delivering the verdict had earlier been fixed on February 9.
As Samrat remains absconding, he could not present his defense or make arguments in court.
