The verdict was delivered on Tuesday by Dhaka’s Fourth Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Tarik Ejaz. Shafik Rehman was present in the courtroom during the announcement.
Earlier, on April 27, Advocate Syed Zainul Abedin Mesbah had pleaded for Rehman’s acquittal. During the hearing, the prosecution informed the court that they had no objection if Shafik Rehman were acquitted in this case.
During the hearing, defense counsel Syed Zainul Abedin Mesbah said: "The victim himself did not file the case. The police, displaying excessive interest, filed it themselves. Shafik Rehman is a 90-year-old man. He was taken into remand for this case."
He further added: "There is no confessional statement in the case. Twelve witnesses have testified, including Joy himself. On the day Joy testified, the judge was seen running behind him after the testimony, such was the scene. This shows what kind of justice was served.”
Mohammad Khalilur Rahman, additional public prosecutor of the concerned court, stated on behalf of the prosecution: “This was a politically motivated harassment case. He is a renowned journalist. We have no objection if he is acquitted.”
According to the case documents, on August 17 last year, Dhaka’s Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Asaduzzaman Noor sentenced five individuals, including then acting editor of "Amar Desh" newspaper Mahmudur Rahman and journalist Shafik Rehman, to seven years of rigorous imprisonment under two separate sections for conspiring to abduct and attempt to murder Sajeeb Wazed Joy.
The other three convicted were Jasas leader Mohammad Ullah, Rizvi Ahmed Caesar, and Mizanur Rahman Bhuiyan.
Under Section 365 of the Penal Code (abduction), the court sentenced the convicts to five years in prison and a fine of Tk5,000.In case of non-payment of the fine, they were to serve an additional one-month imprisonment.
Additionally, under Section 120B (criminal conspiracy), the court imposed two years of imprisonment and another fine of Tk5,000, also carrying a one-month jail term in case of non-payment. The judge mentioned in the verdict that the sentences under both sections would run concurrently.
On September 22 last year, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued a gazette notification suspending the sentences of Shafik Rehman and US-based businessman Mizanur Rahman Bhuiyan for one year.
After Mahmudur Rahman was sent to jail, on September 30, Shafik Rehman surrendered before the Dhaka court and secured bail on condition of filing an appeal against the sentence. Later, on February 10 this year, Amar Desh editor Mahmudur Rahman was acquitted in this case.
The case alleged that from any time before September 2011, BNP Cultural Wing Jasas Vice President Mohammad Ullah Mamun, along with senior leaders of BNP and other alliance parties, conspired at various locations to abduct and murder Sajeeb Wazed Joy, then ICT adviser to the Prime Minister, in the United States.
Detective Branch Inspector Fazlur Rahman filed the case with Paltan Model Police Station on August 3, 2015. Police submitted the charge sheet against the five accused on February 19, 2018.
Twelve witnesses, including Sajeeb Wazed Joy himself, testified in the case.
