14 witnesses testify against former IGP Benazir in graft case
The witnesses testified before Judge Abdullah Al Mamun of Dhaka Special Judge Court-5. As the accused remains absconding, the witnesses could not be cross-examined.
A Dhaka court today (1 July) recorded the testimonies of six more witnesses in the corruption case against former inspector general of police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed, bringing the total number of prosecution witnesses examined to 14 out of 28.
The witnesses testified before Judge Abdullah Al Mamun of Dhaka Special Judge Court-5. As the accused remains absconding, the witnesses could not be cross-examined.
The court fixed 16 July for the next hearing, confirmed Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) lawyer Mir Ahmed Ali Salam. Earlier, on 8 March, the court accepted the charge sheet and issued an arrest warrant against Benazir.
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On 3 May, the same court framed charges against him and ordered the trial to begin. The case was filed on 15 December 2024 by ACC Deputy Director Hafizul Islam.
After completing the investigation, he submitted the charge sheet on 30 November last year, accusing Benazir of acquiring wealth beyond known sources of income, concealing asset information and money laundering.
According to the charge sheet, Benazir declared immovable assets worth Tk6.45 crore and movable assets worth Tk5.74 crore in his wealth statement.
However, the investigation found evidence of immovable assets worth Tk7.52 crore and movable assets worth Tk8.15 crore, taking his total assets to Tk15.68 crore.
The investigation found his lawful income to be Tk6.59 crore. After expenses, his net savings stood at Tk4.63 crore. It alleged that he acquired assets worth Tk11.04 crore beyond known sources of income and concealed the source, nature and ownership of the funds by investing, transferring and converting them through bank accounts, business entities and joint capital ventures.
The six witnesses were Mohammad Abdul Hafiz, district registrar of Narayanganj; SM Mostafizur Rahman, sub-registrar of Hajiganj in Chandpur; Mohammad Rafiqul Islam, sub-registrar of Mahadevpur in Naogaon; Kawsar Khan, sub-registrar of Char Fasson in Bhola; Mohammad Abdus Salam, deputy director of the Forest Department; and Jahangir Alam, sub-registrar of Badda in Dhaka.
