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Seven of the 11 accused in a case filed over embezzling Tk four crore from Farmers Bank (current Padma Bank) defended them as innocent and hoped for justice Sunday.
The seven defendants are- Mahbubul Haque Chisty, former audit committee chairman of Farmers Bank, former managing director of the bank AKM Shamim, first Vice President Shwapan Kumar Rat, VP Md Lutful Haque, former SEVP Gazi Salahudiin, Md Shahjahan and Niranjan Chandra Saha.
The arrestees presented their self defense before Dhaka Special Judge Court-4 justice Sheikh Nazmul Alam and also wished to submit written statements.
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The court ordered to submit the written statements on September 6.
Earlier on Tuesday the defense lawyers questioned the investigation officer of the case Benazir Ahmed, director of Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
So far, the court has recorded statements of 21 witnesses in this case.
On July 10, 2019, the ACC filed the case accusing the former chief justice SK Sinha and 10 others of accumulating illegal wealth and laundering Tk 4 crore.
On September 25, 2019, the anti-graft body summoned five officials of the Farmers Bank Ltd for interrogation over the deposit of Tk 4 crore in SK Sinha’s account with the Supreme Court branch of Sonali Bank Ltd.
On December 10, 2019, the investigation officer of the case filed a chargesheet against the 11 accused.
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On August 13, 2020, a court framed charges against the 11 including SK Sinha.