Dhaka: The High Court (HC) on Monday released full text of its judgment that sentenced BNP senior vice-chairman Tarique Rahman to seven-year imprisonment and fined him Taka 20 crore in a money laundering case. 

A High Court division bench comprising Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Amir Hossain passed the order on July 21, repealing a lower court order that had acquitted the BNP leader in the case.  

The 82-page full text of the judgment was released and published on the website of the Supreme Court after the two judges signed it. 

"It is to be noted with regret that Tarique Rahman...had acted as a conscious part of the financial crime. He being the mighty political elite by virtue of his position obtained dirty money in the name of 'consultation fee' through his close cohort and convict Giasuddin Al Mamun," the court said in its observation. 

"The victim of the financial crime like money laundering is the every citizen of the country. Tarique Rahman, who is found guilty of the offence of laundering the huge amount of ill-gotten fund... deserves no leniency. Since Tarique Rahman has been absconding, the sentence of imprisonment as awarded above shall be executed after causing his arrest or when he surrenders before the trial court," it added. 

Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Huq after the pronouncement of the judgment said that on getting certified copy of the full appeal verdict, the home ministry will launch their act to arrest the fugitive and bring him back to the country. 

According to the case document, Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case against Tarique and his business partner and friend Giasuddin Al Mamun for taking more than Taka 20 crore as bribe and laundering it abroad. Dhaka Third Special Judge Md Motahar Hossain on November 17, 2013, acquitted Tarique from the charges and sentenced Mamun to seven-year imprisonment and fined him Taka 40 crore.  

ACC filed an appeal against Tarique's acquittal on December 5, 2013. Mamun too filed an appeal against the lower court sentence. The High Court in its judgment however, commuted Mamun's fine of Taka 40 crore to Taka 20 crore.