Court begins trial against PSC ex-driver’s son Sohanur in graft case

A Dhaka court has ordered the commencement of trial proceedings against Syed Sohanur Rahman Siam, son of former Public Service Commission (PSC) driver Syed Abed Ali, in a corruption case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) over allegations of acquiring wealth beyond known sources of income.

Judge Begum Shamima Afroze of the Dhaka Divisional Special Judge Court framed charges on Wednesday (June 17) against the accused and ordered the trial to begin.

The court also fixed July 9 for recording witness testimony.

Court sources said the accused, who is currently in custody, was produced before the court during the hearing. However, the defence did not seek his acquittal at the charge-framing stage. Following the hearing, the court formally framed charges and initiated trial proceedings.

Court Inspector Md Saiful Islam confirmed the development, saying the case was filed under Section 27(1) of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004. After investigation, a charge sheet was submitted and the accused was shown arrested in the case.

According to the ACC, three separate cases were filed on January 5 last year against Syed Abed Ali, his wife Shahrin Akter Shilpi, and their son Sohanur Rahman Siam over allegations of illegal wealth accumulation and suspicious financial transactions.

In the case against Abed Ali, the ACC alleged that he accumulated around Tk 3.73 crore in unexplained wealth, along with suspicious transactions worth Tk 41.29 crore through 12 bank accounts.

His wife, Shahrin Akter Shilpi, has been accused of acquiring over Tk 1.26 crore in unexplained assets, with transactions worth Tk 3.56 crore flagged as suspicious in her bank accounts.

Siam faces allegations of acquiring around Tk 3.30 crore in wealth beyond known sources, according to the investigation report submitted by the ACC.

Abed Ali, a former PSC driver who later drew public attention over alleged question paper leaks, became widely discussed after allegations surfaced regarding irregularities and unexplained wealth within his family. Following the investigation, Siam was arrested on January 20 last year and has remained in custody since.