B'desh jails TV channel owner for firearm possession

DHAKA, July 3 (Reuters) A court in Bangladesh sentenced the politically connected owner of a television channel to 10 years in prison today for possessing an unlicenced firearm and several rounds of ammunition, a court official said.

''Judge Abul Bashar sentenced Giasuddin Al Mamun, managing director of 'Channel 1' to 10-year rigorous imprisonment for illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition,'' a court registrar said.

A special anti-corruption court had already sentenced Mamun last month to three years in prison for failing to submit a statement of his wealth and its sources.

Mamun was a close associate of Tareque Rahman, the elder son of most recent prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia.

Tareque is also under detention, facing charges of extortion and abuse of power.

Police said Mamun was arrested in March after they found an unlicensed pistol and eight rounds of ammunition while raiding his home in Dhaka's posh Gulshan area.

Bangladesh's army-backed interim administration, conducting a crackdown on corruption, has so far detained more than 170 influential political figures including several former ministers, from the governments of Khaleda and her rival Sheikh Hasina, chief of the Awami League.

Mamun and Tareque were named as co-accused in a case involving the alleged extortion of 10 million taka (5,000) from a businessman.

The interim government, which cancelled elections scheduled for January 22, has said it plans to complete the campaign against corrupt politicians before holding a ballot around the end of 2008.

Among those detained, six people so far including two former ministers of Khaleda's cabinet and one of her political secretaries have been sentenced for different terms of imprisonment for involvement in corruption and misuse of power.

Several others were being prosecuted in different courts across the country.

REUTERS PD RK2048