19 including Destiny MD Rafiqul jailed for 12 years

A Dhaka court on Wednesday sentenced Destiny Group Managing Director Rafiqul Amin and 18 others to 12 years' imprisonment in a money laundering case.

Judge Md Rabiul Alam of the Special Judge's Court-4 of Dhaka delivered the verdict, said a court staffer.

Among the accused, Rafiqul Amin, his wife Farah Diba, and Destiny Group Chairman Mohammad Hossain are currently in jail custody, while Destiny-2000 President Lt Gen (retd) Harun-Ar-Rashid is out on bail.

Fifteen other accused have been absconding since the case was filed.

Earlier, the court recorded statements of 141 prosecution witnesses, including the complainant.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) pressed charges on May 4, 2014 against 51 individuals in two cases, accusing them of misappropriating over Tk 4,200 crore from investors.

Charges were framed against Rafiqul Amin and 50 others on August 24, 2016. They were charged for misappropriating funds through Destiny Tree Plantation (DTPL) project from Destiny Multipurpose Cooperative Society Ltd (DMCSL), according to ACC.

On May 12, 2022, the same court sentenced all 46 accused, including Rafiqul Amin and Harun, to different terms of imprisonment in another money laundering case.

Among them, Rafiqul Amin was sentenced to 12 years' of imprisonment and Lt Gen (retd) Harun-Ar-Rashid to four years.