Ex-DGHS driver Malek, wife jailed in graft case

A Dhaka court has sentenced Abdul Malek, the controversial former driver at the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), to five years in prison, and his wife Nargis Begum to three years, in a case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) over amassing wealth beyond known sources of income.

Judge Md Zakaria Hossain of Dhaka Special Judge Court-6 delivered the verdict on Wednesday (April 16) in presence of the accused. Following the verdict, both were sent to prison under a warrant of conviction.

The information was confirmed by ACC Public Prosecutor Asaduzzaman Rana. In addition to the prison terms, the court also fined each of the convicts Tk 20,000. In default of payment, they will have to serve an additional three months of simple imprisonment.

Furthermore, the court ordered the confiscation of illegally acquired assets worth Tk 11,093,050 in favour of the state, the ACC prosecutor added.

Malek was produced in court from prison, while Nargis Begum, who had been out on bail, appeared before the court voluntarily. After the verdict, both were taken to jail in custody.

ACC Assistant Director Syed Nazrul Islam filed the case against Malek and his wife on February 14, 2021, accusing them of acquiring assets worth Tk 11,092,050 inconsistent with their known sources of income. Following the investigation, a charge sheet was submitted to the court on October 27 of the same year. The court framed charges and began the trial on May 11, 2022. During the proceedings, 10 witnesses testified.

Earlier, on March 23, the same court sentenced Abdul Malek to 13 years of rigorous imprisonment in two separate charges in another corruption case. He was also sentenced to 30 years in prison in 2021 in two counts under the Arms Act on September 20.