Bangla-former junior minister jailed

Dhaka, June 21 (UNI) Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader and former state minister Amanullah Aman was today sentenced to thirteen years' imprisonment by a special court in a graft case.

The court also ordered three years imprisonment for his wife and directed confiscation of his wealth amassed by illegal means.

Aman was State Minister for Labour and Overseas Employment in the immediate past government of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia.

Aman is the first minister of Ms Zia's government who was tried and sentenced among scores of former ministers and MPs now in custody facing corruption charges.

Military-backed caretaker government installed in January this year launched war on corruption to clean up politics before holding general elections by the end of 2008.

The court found Aman guilty of concealing information about his statement of wealth submitted earlier to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and amassing wealth worth over Tk ten crore through illegal means.

He was sentenced to ten years rigorous imprisonment for amassing illegal wealth and three years for concealing information about his wealth. Both the sentences will run consecutively.

Aman's wife Sabera Aman was convicted of aiding and abetting her husband in protecting their ill-gotten property.

Army-led joint forces arrested Aman on February 6 as part of the current caretaker government's drive against corrupt politicians, businessmen and influential people.

So far, the fast track court trying bigwig corruption suspects jailed ex-PM Khaleda Zia's political secretary Harris Chowdhury for three years for non-submission of his statement of wealth and controversial businessman Gias Uddin Al Mamun for three years for amassing illegal wealth worth Tk 62 crore.

Mamun is a close friend of Ms Zia's detained son Tarique Rahman who is also facing a number of criminal cases including extortion and exclusive.

UNI