Mirza Abbas, 20 others acquitted

 
BNP Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas and 20 others have been acquitted in 15 corruption cases over the alleged irregular sale of 18 government-abandoned houses, involving Tk 127.64 crore.

Dhaka Special Judge Court-3 Judge Muhammad Kamrul Hasan Khan delivered the verdict on Thursday.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the 15 cases in March 2007, accusing 21 people in total. Abbas and 11 others were accused in all 15 cases, while the remaining accused faced charges in one or more cases. All the accused were acquitted.

According to the cases, the accused allegedly manipulated tenders and sold the 18 abandoned government houses in prime areas of Dhaka at unusually low prices, causing a loss of Tk 127.64 crore to the state.

The ACC alleged that Abbas, who was housing and public works minister at the time, abused his power and approved the sales despite higher valuations proposed by officials of the Public Works Department.

The charges were framed against the accused in September 2007 after the ACC submitted charge sheets. During the trial, the court recorded statements from 23 of 24 prosecution witnesses. After lengthy proceedings, the court acquitted all the accused of the charges on Thursday.