Regent`s Shahed Karim sentenced to three years in prison

The court has sentenced Regent Hospital chairman Mohammad Shaheed Karim to three years in prison in a case filed with the Anti-Corruption Commissioner (ACC) on charges of acquiring illegal assets.

On Monday (August 21), Judge Pradeep Kumar Roy of Dhaka's Special Judge Court-7 announced the verdict.

In addition to the penalty, the court fined him one lakh rupees. This amount of fine has been ordered to be paid to the government treasury within the next 60 working days. In the judgement, the judge mentioned that as the offense under Section 26 (2) of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004 was proved beyond doubt against the accused Saheed, he was sentenced to three years rigorous imprisonment. The court acquitted him as section 27 (1) of the same Act was not proved beyond doubt.

ACC Public Prosecutor Mahmud Hossain (Jahangir) confirmed the matter.

Shahed was brought to court from prison before the verdict was announced. After the verdict was announced, he was sent back to jail with a warrant.

Earlier, on August 10, the judge fixed this day for announcing the verdict after presenting the arguments of the state and the accused in this case.

According to the complaint, the ACC issued a notice to Saheed to submit the asset account within 21 working days on November 5, 2020. As he did not submit the asset account during this time, another 15 working days was given. However, the ACC started the inquiry as the asset statement was not submitted even within the extended period. Investigation found allegations of illegal acquisition of 1 crore 69 lakh rupees against him.

On March 1, 2021, a case was filed against Saheed at ACC's integrated Dhaka District Office-1. Later, on April 17, 2022, the court ordered the formal trial to begin by filing a complaint against the witness in this case. Ten of the total ten witnesses in the case testified at various times.

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