Rahman, who has been living in London since 2007, was charged under Money Laundering Act. The court also slapped 200 million taka (Bangladesh currency) fine on him. "He (Rahman) has been tried in absentia as he did not appear despite being summoned...the court earlier declared him fugitive" a court official told reporters after the verdict. The High Court, however, upheld Mamun's jail term but lowered the amount of fine to 200 million taka, an equal amount of penalty slapped on Rahman. The Anti-Corruption Commission brought the money laundering charge against Rahman during the past military- backed interim government which spearheaded a massive anti-graft campaign under the State of Emergency from 2006 to 2008 when Rahman was put behind the bar.

Source: dna July 21, 2016 07:30 UTC