Hallmark Scandal: Tanvir, Jasmine get life imprisonment

A Dhaka court has sentenced Hallmark Managing Director Tanvir Mahmud and his wife Jasmine Islam, the company's chairman, to life imprisonment in a case of embezzlement of Tk 10.5 crore of Sonali Bank.

Judge Md Abul Kashem of Dhaka's No. 1 Special Judge Court announced this verdict on Tuesday (March 19) in the presence of eight accused in the courtroom.

Among the 17 accused in the case, Tanvir and Jasmine were sentenced to life imprisonment and fined tk 5 crore under Section 409 of the Penal Code. At the same time, they were sentenced to seven years rigorous imprisonment and fined tk 25,000 under section 420.

A total of 57 state witnesses testified in court during the trial.

After hearing the arguments of the case on January 28, the court fixed February 28 as the verdict date. However, on that day, when the ACC applied to withdraw the case from the judgment and receive the testimony of two more witnesses, the court granted it. Then the court accepted the testimony of two magistrates. On March 12, after the presentation of arguments by the ACC and the accused, March 19 was fixed as the verdict date.

On March 27, 2016, another court in Dhaka framed charges against the defendants in this case. Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case at Ramna Model Police Station on October 12, 2012. On October 7, 2013, the ACC filed charges against 20 people in the case.