A court has sentenced Pradeep Kumar Das to 20 years and his wife Chumki Karon to 21 years in prison in a case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on charges of acquiring illegal wealth. Along with confiscation of property, a fine of Tk 4 crore 21 lakh has also been imposed.
Chattogram Divisional Special Judge Munshi Abdul Majid pronounced the verdict in the corruption case on Wednesday. Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) lawyer Mahmudul Haque Mahmud confirmed the matter.
On July 18, in the court of Chattogram Divisional Special Judge Munshi Abdul Majid, arguments in this case ended.
According to sources, on August 23, 2020, ACC Assistant Director Md Riaz Uddin filed the case against Pradeep Kumar Das and his wife Chumki with ACC Integrated District Office-1 on charges of acquiring illegal wealth. The case was filed against them under Section 25 (2) and 27 (1) of the ACC Act, 2004, Section 4 (2) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2012, Section 5 (2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947 and Section 109 of the Penal Code.
On December 15 last year, Chattogram Divisional Special Judge’s Court Judge Munshi Abdul Majeed ordered the trial against Pradeep and his wife Chumki by framing charges in the corruption case.
Last year on July 26, the chargesheet was submitted to the court by the investigation officer of the ACC Chattogram Assistant Director Md Riaz Uddin. Although Pradeep was arrested and in jail, Pradeep's wife Chumki surrendered to the court on May 23 this year. Later, the court sent her to jail after the hearing.
It is reported that Chumki's legal income is 2 crore 44 lakh 66 thousand 234 taka against movable and immovable assets of 4 crore 80 lakh 64 thousand 651 taka. ACC found evidence of illegal acquisition of the remaining 2 crore 35 lakh 98 thousand 417 taka.
Pradeep's wife Chumki owns a six-storey building in Patharghata of Chattogram, a house in Sholshahr, 45 bhori of gold, a car and microbus, a flat in Cox's Bazar. The ACC’s investigation has revealed that Pradeep's wife Chumki acquired these assets with having money through bribery and corruption. Besides, Chumki claimed to be a fish trader, but the ACC did not find any evidence in this regard.
It’s noted that retired Army Major Sinha Mohammad Rashed Khan was shot dead at Shamlapur Marine Drive Check Post in Teknaf's Baharchhara Union on the night of July 31, 2020. OC Pradeep has been in jail since August 6 of the same year in this incident. Court sentenced Pradeep to death in Sinha murder case.