A special court yesterday sentenced former state minister and Awami League leader Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya's son Sajedul Islam Chowdhury alias Dipu Chowdhury to 3 years' rigorous imprisonment for not submitting his wealth statement to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
Judge Sirajul Islam of Special Judge's Court-7, set up on the Jatiya Sangsad premises, also fined Dipu Tk 5 lakh, in default of which he will spend an additional year in jail.
Dipu was sentenced under section 26 (2) (Ka) of ACC Act 2004.
The court ordered that the verdict would take effect from the day Dipu surrenders to the court or is arrested. At present he is on the run.
The ACC filed the case against Dipu Chowdhury on November 22 last year showing him absconding.
ACC Assistant Director Mohammad Ibrahim filed the case with Sutrapur Police Station after Dipu failed to submit his wealth statement within seven days as directed by an ACC notice served on him on September 27, 2007.
A Dhaka court on March 19 this year issued an arrest warrant against him.
On March 18, the ACC investigating officer (IO) Mahbubur Rahman submitted the charge sheet against Dipu to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court, Dhaka showing 11 people as prosecution witnesses.