Guwahati, Aug. 10: In the first conviction in the multi-crore Dima Hasao scam, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) special court here today sentenced Samir Ahmed to three years of rigorous imprisonment.
The court found Ahmed guilty under Section 19 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in the NIA case number 01/2009.
This was the first case registered by the agency since it came into existence in January 2009. It had registered the case during investigation of allegations about diversion of government funds released to Dima Hasao Autonomous Council to militant coffers.
“He (Ahmed) has submitted that he confessed his guilt of his own accord and free will and nobody has forced or induced him to do so. His plea of guilt is accepted and he is found guilty under Section 19 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act,” NIA special court judge I. Hussain said in his order, adding, “The case against Ahmed is disposed accordingly.”
Ahmed had recorded his voluntary confessional statement before a magistrate here on June 20 and expressed his willingness to become an approver. He also submitted in court that his father was bed-ridden after suffering a stroke and his wife and his minor son were suffering in every way since his arrest.
Ahmed was arrested along with the DHD (Jewel) chairman Jewel Garlosa from Bangalore on June 3, 2009.
Ahmed, an employee of HSBC Bank, Bangalore, hails from Upper Assam’s Dibrugarh town.
According to NIA, Ahmed was a close associate of Gorlosa and had facilitated the latter’s stay in Bangalore and also helped him get fake identity documents.
A classmate of Partha Warisa, an alleged DHD-J cadre when he was studying in Haflong, the district headquarters of Dima Hasao district, Ahmed was a resident of Bannerughatta Road in Bangalore when he was arrested.
The NIA had also submitted a petition in court praying for grant of pardon to Ahmed, allowing him to be a witness for the prosecution.
“I have gone through the provision of law. Section 306 CrPC provides for tender of pardon to an accused during inquiry or trial. But in case of Ahmed, both stages are over and hence the petition can’t be considered, and is accordingly rejected,” the order said.
Two investigating agencies are probing the Dima Hasao scam.
While the NIA is probing the links between militant outfits of the Northeast and their sources of funds, the CBI is investigating the aspects related to corruption.
In this connection, the vigilance and anti-corruption branch of Assam police had recently raided the residence and farmhouse of the scam’s prime accused, R.H. Khan.
