DHAKA: The High Court Tuesday scrapped a special-court verdict sentencing former BNP minister Shahjahan Siraj for concealing wealth information to the Anti-Corruption Commission during the rule of the past interim regime.

An HC bench of Justice Sayed Mohammad Dastagir Hossain and Justice AKM Zahirul Haque passed the order exonerating him following an appeal filed by the BNP leader challenging the legality of his conviction.

The ACC filed the case with Ramna thana on September 24, 2007 against Shahjahan Siraj for concealing his wealth information.

On April 22 in 2008, a special court set up on the Parliament premises sentenced him to 13 years` imprisonment in the case.

Shahjahan Siraj’s lawyer Ahsanul Karim filed an appeal in 2009 challenging the legality of the court verdict.

BDST 1618 HRS, AUGUST 24, 2010