A Dhaka court has set March 27 to deliver its judgement in corruption case against controversial contractor Golam Kibria Shamim, widely known as GK Shamim, and his mother Ayesha Akter.
The Special Judge Court-4 of Dhaka, presided over by Judge Md Rabiul Alam, fixed the date on March 20 after concluding arguments from both the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and the defense.
Belal Hossain, assistant of the concerned bench, confirmed this on Sunday (March 23).
The ACC filed the case on October 21, 2019, accusing Shamim and his mother of amassing illegal wealth worth BDT 2.97 billion. The case was investigated by ACC Deputy Director Md Salahuddin, who submitted the charge sheet on January 17, 2021.
Subsequently, the court framed charges against the accused on October 18, 2022.
Shamim was arrested on September 20, 2019, during Bangladesh’s anti-casino crackdown. Law enforcement officials seized BDT 18.1 million in cash, USD 9,000, FDRs worth BDT 16.5 billion, firearms, and liquor from his residence in Niketan, Dhaka. At the time of his arrest, his company, GK Builders, held contracts for 22 major government projects valued at BDT 60 billion, which were later canceled. Authorities also froze 194 bank accounts linked to him.
Following his arrest, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) filed a money laundering case against Shamim on September 21, 2019. In July 2023, Dhaka’s Special Judge Court-10 sentenced him to 10 years in prison under the Money Laundering Act, while his seven bodyguards received four-year sentences.
Additionally, on September 25, 2022, he and his bodyguards were sentenced to life imprisonment in an arms case by the Third Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court in Dhaka.
The upcoming verdict will determine the fate of Shamim and his mother regarding the illegal wealth allegations brought by the ACC.
AL/TF
