Papia gets four years’ jail for money laundering

Expelled Jubo Mohila League leader Shamima Nur Papia was sentenced to four years' imprisonment yesterday in a case filed over laundering Tk 3.23 crore.

Judge Md Monjurul Hossain of the Special Judge's Court-8 delivered the verdict in her absence at the courtroom.

Earlier, the judge cancelled her bail and declared her fugitive after dismissing a petition submitted through her lawyer over her absence before the court.

The judge also fined her Tk 5 lakh, or three more months in jail in default.

Her punishment will be effective from the day of her arrest or surrender, according to the verdict.

The judge acquitted four others, including Papia's husband Mofizur Rahman Sumon, a former Chhatra League leader, and associates Sabbir Khondaker, Sheikh Taiyaba Nur and Zobair Alam, as their involvement could not be proven.

Earlier the prosecution completed their arguments and the judge recorded statements of 16 prosecution witnesses, including complainant of the case.

On December 27 of 2021, Mohammad Ibrahim Hossain, also investigation officer of the case, submitted charge sheet against five people including Papia.

On August 21 of 2022, the same court framed charges against the accused in the case.

CID Inspector Md Moniruzzaman filed the case with Gulshan Police Station under the Money Laundering Control Act on March 21, 2020.

A team of Rab-1 arrested Papia, her husband and their two accomplices from Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport when they were trying to leave the country on February 22, 2020.

In a raid, the elite force recovered seven passports, Tk 2,12,270, fake notes of Tk 25,600, USD 11,481, Sri Lankan rupee 420, Indian rupee 301 and two debit cards from their possessions.

On October 12, 2020, another Dhaka court sentenced Papia and her husband to 27 years' rigorous imprisonment in an arms case.