In a dramatic turn of events, one of the accused individuals in the Hallmark corruption case, out on bail, made a swift escape from the courtroom upon learning of his prison sentence.
Md Jamal Uddin Sarkar, former chairman of Tetuljhora Union Parishad in Hemayetpur, Savar, who was the sole individual granted bail in the case, appeared in court on Tuesday to hear the verdict.
Facing two separate sections, Sarkar received a seven-year prison term. However, he seized the opportunity and absconded from the courtroom unnoticed.
Simultaneously, a Dhaka court delivered a landmark judgment, sentencing Hallmark Managing Director Tanvir Mahmud and his wife, Jasmine Islam, the company’s chairman, to life imprisonment in connection with one of the 11 cases linked to Sonali Bank’s massive loan corruption scandal, totaling Tk4,000 crore.
Presiding Judge Md Abul Kashem of Dhaka’s Special Judge Court 1 pronounced the verdict on Tuesday.
Furthermore, seven Sonali Bank officials were handed 17 years imprisonment each under two separate sections.
Defense attorney Harun Or Rashid expressed astonishment at Jamal Uddin’s sudden disappearance, noting his presence during the verdict announcement.
However, Rajiv Ghosh, the bench assistant, confirmed the accused’s absence post-verdict, leading to the court’s decision to revoke Sarkar’s bail, issue an arrest warrant, and authorize a sentence warrant.
The escape of the accused adds another layer of complexity to the already convoluted Hallmark corruption case, underscoring the gravity of the legal proceedings surrounding one of Bangladesh’s most significant financial scandals.
