No obstacle to Destiny MD’s release from jail

The Dhaka Senior Special Judge's Court-4 on Wednesday sentenced 19 people, including Destiny Group's Managing Director (MD) Rafiqul Amin, to 12 years in prison in a case filed on charges of embezzlement of money from the sale of trees by Destiny Tree Plantation Limited.

However, Rafiqul Amin and Destiny Chairman Mohammad Hossain have already served 12 years and 3 months in prison. Their lawyers said that now there is no obstacle to their release from jail as the court has ordered to adjust the sentence with the time they have already served in prison.

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Public Prosecutor (PP) Mahmud Hossain Jahangir presented the arguments on behalf of the ACC, seeking the maximum punishment for the accused.

On the other hand, senior lawyer Ehsanul Haque Samaji moved for the accused. After hearing the arguments of both sides, the court announced the verdict.

Lawyer Ehsanul Haque Samaji said, "As a result of the verdict in the case after a 12-year long legal battle, there is no obstacle to the release of Rafiqul Amin and Mohammad Hossain from jail; because they have already served 12 years and 3 months in prison. Since the sentences were adjusted with the time they were in prison, they will not have to remain in prison anymore."

The ACC filed two cases with Kalabagan Police Station in the capital on July 31, 2012. On May 4, 2014, the ACC submitted the chargesheet against 19 people in one case and against 46 people in the other case.

On May 12, 2022, Rafiqul Amin was sentenced to 12 years in prison in a case filed on charges of embezzling money by defrauding customers and illegally laundering money. In addition, 45 people, including former army chief Lt Gen (retd) Harun Or Rashid, were sentenced to various terms of imprisonment.