The Supreme Court has affirmed businessman Giasuddin Al Mamun's acquittal in a case concerning the accumulation of wealth beyond known sources of income.
An Appellate Division bench led by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed issued the order, upholding a High Court ruling on Thursday.
"The case was filed during the state of emergency following the events of 1/11. While the trial court sentenced Mamun to 10 years in prison, the High Court later acquitted him. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) appealed that decision to the Appellate Division," Mamun's lawyer Sabbir Hamza Chowdhury said.
"The Appellate Division initially sent the case back to the High Court for a rehearing. Mamun filed a review petition challenging the rehearing order, which the court accepted. The review was later converted into an appeal. Now, the Appellate Division allowed that appeal, effectively upholding the High Court's acquittal."
The case stems from a complaint filed by then ACC assistant director Mohammad Ibrahim at the Cantonment Police Station on May 8, 2007. The ACC alleged that Mamun had failed to submit a statement of his assets despite being served with a notice.
Mamun was accused of illegally amassing wealth worth over Tk 1 billion.
On Mar 27, 2008, the trial court convicted Mamun, sentencing him to 10 years in prison and imposing a fine of Tk 1 million, with an additional year of imprisonment in case of non-payment.
Mamun appealed the conviction, and on July 30, 2012, the High Court acquitted him. Dissatisfied, the ACC filed a leave-to-appeal petition in the Appellate Division.
