Aizawl Court sentences Guwahati man to 5 years in jail for fraud and criminal conspiracy

“Being first time of conviction in criminal case, all the sentences, except fine, shall run concurrently,” the special judge pronounced

By Issac Zoramsanga

A Special Court (Prevention of Corruption Act) in Aizawl today sentenced Mustaqur Rahman (45) from Assam, to 5 years’ imprisonment and slapped a fine of Rs 20 lakh on charges of misappropriation of funds, cheating, and criminal conspiracy.

Mustaqur Rahman is co-accused in a graft case to the tune of Rs 268 lakhs.

Special judge Dr. H.T.C. Lalrinchhana sentenced Mustaqur Rahman to 5 years of imprisonment and booked him under sections 403/420/468/471 read with 120B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and under section 13 (1) (d)/13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 read with 120B IPC.

“Being first time of conviction in criminal case, all the sentences, except fine, shall run concurrently,” the special judge pronounced.

The special judge said that the court found ‘aggravating circumstances to inflict a deterrent form of punishment’ for his involvement in a huge amount of money. Mustaqur had misused his position as a consultant at Mizoram Agriculture Marketing Corporation (MAMCO) Ltd, which affects the credibility of governance.

“The convicted person absconded from interim bail granted by Hon’ble Gauhati High Court, Aizawl Bench and belatedly arrested at Delhi after conviction of the main accused Mr. Lalremthanga,” he said.

The Special Court had convicted Rahman for misappropriation, cheating, and criminal conspiracy on Friday.
The convicted person, Rahman, was sent to jail immediately after the pronouncement of the quantum of punishment by the court.

His co-accused Lalremthanga, former Managing Director of the state government owned Mizoram Agriculture Marketing Corporation Ltd. (MAMCO) was already convicted by the same court in November last year and sentenced to 5 years’ rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 5 lakh. He is serving his jail term.

The state Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) officials, during the course of investigation, discovered that Lalremthanga appointed Rahman as consultant of MAMCO, without the knowledge of the managing board of the Corporation.

The Managing Director of the MAMCO Zothankhuma, who filed a complaint to the ACB on April 6, 2015 said that the managing director did not have any power to appoint a consultant without the approval of the managing board. The total amount of money obtained by the two convicted persons is estimated to be at least Rs 268 lakh.

Also Read: Aizawl Court convicts Guwahati man on charges of fraud and criminal conspiracy

COMMENTS