Staff Correspondent: For 4 million embezzled and the trafficking from Farmers Bank (now Bank of Padma) by former Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha (SK Sinha) is sentenced to 11 years. He was sentenced to seven years in prison for money laundering and four years for embezzlement. However, the judge mentioned in the 182-page judgment that the sentence of the two sections will run simultaneously.

The verdict was handed down on Tuesday (November 9). Judge Sheikh Nazmul Alam of Dhaka Special Judge's Court-4 pronounced the verdict. Former Chief Justice SK Sinha is absconding.

Among the other accused there is Mahbubul Haque Chishti alias Babul Chishti, former chairman of the audit committee of Farmers Bank is currently in prison. Also, former MD of the bank AKM Shamim, former SEVP Gazi Salahuddin, First Vice President Swapan Kumar Roy, Vice President. Lutful Haque, a resident of Tangail. Shahjahan and Niranjan Chandra Saha of the same area are out on bail. The bank's first vice president Safiuddin Askari, Tangail resident Ranjit Chandra Saha and his wife Santri Roy are also absconding.

According to court sources, the case was filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on July 10 last year, alleging misuse of power, fraud and forgery and transfer of SK Sinha's personal status through a pay-order of Tk 4 crore from Farmers Bank. At the end of the investigation on December 9 of the same year, the ACC director. Benazir Ahmed filed the charge sheet in court. The trial began on August 13 last year with the formation of charges against 11 accused, including SK Sinha. Testimony in the case ended on August 24. Out of 21 witnesses, 20 have testified.