Online Desk: The High Court today upheld trial court verdicts that convicted and sentenced BNP leaders Aman Ullah Aman, his wife Sabera Aman and Iqbal Hasan Mahmood Tuku to prison terms in two corruption cases filed during the caretaker government rule from 2007-08. The HC also directed them to surrender before the lower courts concerned in two weeks in connection with the cases, Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin Manik said. The bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Khizir Hayat Lizu delivered the verdicts after dismissing the appeals filed by Aman, Tuku and Sabera challenging the lower court verdicts on them.

A special court on June 21, 2007 sentenced Aman to 13 years’ imprisonment for amassing wealth illegally and concealing information in his wealth statement. His wife Sabera was also sentenced to three years’ imprisonment by the same court as she was found guilty of abetting the offence. Following an appeal filed by the couple, the HC on August 16, 2010 acquitted them of the graft charges.

The Appellate Division of the SC on May 26, 2014 cancelled the HC verdict and asked it to hold a fresh hearing on their appeals. The Anti-Corruption Commission on March 21, 2007 had filed the case with Mohammadpur Police Station, accusing Tuku of illegally amassing wealth worth Tk 2.57 crore and concealing information in his wealth statement.

A special court on November 15, 2007 handed Tuku a nine-year jail term in the case. Following his appeal, the HC on June 16, 2011 acquitted the BNP leader of the corruption charges. The SC on January 27, 2014 cancelled the HC verdict and asked it to hold a fresh hearing on his appeal.