Court defers indictment hearing in graft case against ex-home minister to 23 Nov

A Dhaka court has deferred the hearing on charge framing against former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, his wife and two children in a case over alleged illegal wealth accumulation and money laundering to 23 November.

Dhaka Special Judge Court-5 Judge Abdullah Al Mamun set the new date today (1 November) after the defence sought an adjournment, citing the illness of its lawyer.

The other accused in the case are Kamal’s wife, Lutful Tahmina Khan, son Shafi Moddachir Khan Jyoti, and daughter Shafia Tasnim Khan.

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) lawyer Tarikul Islam said the hearing on charge framing was scheduled for today. However, the defence lawyer could not appear in court as he was suffering from dengue and kidney disease.

The court accepted the defence’s time petition and fixed 23 November for the next hearing.

According to the case file, the case was initially pending before Dhaka Special Judge Court-10 before being transferred to Special Judge Court-5 by the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court.

The ACC filed the case against Kamal on 9 October 2024 over allegations of acquiring illegal wealth. On 18 December last year, the commission submitted a charge sheet against Kamal and the three other accused following an investigation.

Kamal allegedly abused his power and engaged in criminal misconduct through dishonest means while serving as a public servant to acquire Tk22.58 crore in assets beyond his known sources of income.

The case also alleges that he conducted transactions worth Tk87.46 crore through nine bank accounts and concealed the illegal origins of proceeds from corruption and bribery through their conversion, transfer or transfer of ownership, constituting money laundering.