Plot Scam Shawkat Aziz sent to jail

 
A Dhaka court on Sunday sent Shawkat Aziz Russell, son of late Partex Group founder M A Hashem, to jail after rejecting his bail petition in a corruption case over plot allocation in the Rajuk Purbachal New Town Project.

Russell, who was sentenced to 14 years in prison, surrendered before Dhaka Special Judge Court-9 and sought bail pending an appeal against the verdict. Judge Md Abdus Salam rejected his petition and ordered him to be sent to jail.

ACC prosecutor Khandaker Shamim Hossain confirmed the development, saying the court also rejected the defence’s bail plea, despite its request for prison division facilities.

On October 13, the same court sentenced Russell and seven others, including six former Rajuk officials and his brother Ashfaq Aziz Rubel, to 14 years imprisonment each for their involvement in the plot allocation corruption.

Russell and Rubel were each fined Tk 20 lakh, with an additional one year of imprisonment in default of payment. The six former Rajuk officials received the same sentences and fines.

The court also cancelled the allocation of two 10-katha plots in Sector 1, Road 405, Plot Nos. 011 and 013, allotted to Russell and Rubel and ordered their confiscation in favour of the state.