A Dhaka court on Tuesday sentenced to 8 years’ rigorous imprisonment in a case filed against former state minister for home Lutfozzaman Babar on charges of amassing illegal wealth worth Tk 7.5 crore.

Judge Mohammad Shahidul Islam of Dhaka Special Judges Court-7 passed the order after hearing the closing argument of both prosecution and defence in the case.

During the closing hearing, the prosecution told the court that they were able to prove the charges against Babar and sought the highest punishment for him.

Besides, the defence lawyers sought acquittal of their client claiming that the prosecution failed to prove charges against him. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case against Babar with Ramna police on January 13, 2008, accusing him of amassing around Tk 7.05 crore illegally.

ACC Deputy Assistant Director Rupok Kumar Saha submitted the charge sheet in the case on July 16, 2008. A Dhaka court on August 12 the same year had indicted Babar in this case.

Babar was arrested from his Gulshan residence on May 28, 2007. He was sentenced to 17 years of imprisonment in an arms case on October 30, 2007. He was also sentenced to death in the 10-truck arms haul and August 21 grenade attack cases.