HC upholds 14 years sentence of DIG Mizan in illegal wealth case

The High Court (HC) on Wednesday upheld the lower court verdict that sentenced former deputy inspector general of police (DIG) Mizanur Rahman to 14 years imprisonment for amassing over Tk 3.28 crore beyond known sources of income and concealing wealth of Tk 3.27 crore from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

The single member bench of the HC comprised of Justice Md Kamrul Hossain Mollah delivered the verdict after dismissing an appeal filed by DIG Mizanur Rahman challenging the lower court verdict.

Barrister Mahbub Shafique appeared for DIG Mizan while Advocate Khurshid Alam Khan represented the ACC during the court proceedings.
Earlier on June 21 in 2023, a Dhaka court sentenced him to 14 years imprisonment for amassing over Tk 3.28 crore beyond known sources of income and concealing wealth of Tk 3.27 crore from the ACC.

Mizans wife Sohelia Anar Ratna; nephew Mahmudul Hasan, a suspended sub-inspector of police, and his brother Mahbubur Rahman were also jailed for seven years each for abetting Mizan to acquire the illegal wealth.

In his judgment, Judge Monjurul Imam of Special Judges Court-6 of Dhaka said the prosecution was able to prove the charges brought against all the accused beyond doubt and they were given the punishment for committing such offences.

Mizan was also fined Tk1.5 lakh, in default of which he will have to serve nine more months in jail.

The time that Mizan has already served will be deducted from his sentence, said the judge.

The judge observed that Mizan was a senior official of the police force but he had committed heinous offences for acquiring wealth illegally. So, he could not expect leniency from the court.

Earlier, the judge recorded statements of the 27 prosecution witnesses, including the complainant of the case.

On June 24 of 2019, the ACC filed the case with its Integrated District Office in Dhaka against Mizan and three others.

After an investigation, the ACC submitted charge sheet against them on January 30, 2020.

On October 20 of 2020, the Judge framed charges against Mizan and the three others in the case.

On February 23 in 2022, Mizan was given three years imprisonment for giving Tk 40 lakh as bribe to an ACC official.