Dhaka: A court in Bangladesh has sentenced the fugitive son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia to six years in jail for laundering money taken as bribes from two global companies.
Judge Mohammad Mozammel Hossain says in his verdict Thursday verdict that Arafat Rahman is guilty of smuggling more than 200 million takas ($2.66 million) to Singapore.
Rahman was accused of taking bribes from China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd. and the Bangladesh subsidiary of Germany`s industrial giant Siemens AG for helping them win government contracts during his mother`s 2001-2006 premiership.
Rahman was tried in absentia. He has been living in Bangkok since 2008 after he was released pending trial on the grounds of poor health. He later refused to return for trial.
Bureau Report
