Papia, her husband get 27yrs jail in arms case

A lower court in Dhaka on Monday sentenced expelled Jubo Mohila League leader Shamima Nur Papia and her husband Mofizur Rahman Sumon to 27 years imprisonment each in an arms case, reports UNB.

Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge KM Imrul Kayesh handed down the verdict when police produced them before a crowded courtroom in the afternoon.

On 27 September, the court fixed today for delivering verdict in the case.

Investigation officer Arifuzzaman, sub-inspector of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), submitted charge sheet in the case on 29 June. Charges were framed on 23 August.

Twelve people were named as witnesses in the case.

RAB raided two flats belonging to Papia and Sumon on 23 February, a day after arresting them from Dhaka airport.

Counterfeit notes and foreign currencies worth around Tk 250,000 were seized from them during the drive.

About Tk 5.8 million was recovered from the two flats on Indira Road in Dhaka belonging to the couple and a presidential suite at a five-star hotel in the capital.

Apart from the lavish flats, Papia and her husband, who was a former Chhatra League leader, own two more flats and two plots worth around Tk 20 million in Narsingdi and a number of luxurious cars.

Three cases were filed against them – two at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station under the Arms Act and the Special Powers Acts and another with Airport Police under the Special Powers Act-1974.

On 4 August, the Anti-Corruption Commission filed a case against Papia and her husband for embezzling Tk 62.4 million.