Jahalom freed from jail

Jute mill worker Jahalom, who was in jail for the last three years instead of the real accused Abu Salek in 26 corruption cases, was released from the jail on Monday.

He was released from Kashimpur Central Jail 2 in Gazipur at 12:58am, jailer Tariqul confirmed the release to Jago News.

Earlier on Sunday, the High Court directed the jail authorities to release Jahalom.

The HC bench of Justice FRM Nazmul Ahasan and Justice KM Kamrul Kader gave the order to free Jahalom immediately while hearing a rule over the legality of his jailing.  

The court passed the order after the Director General of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), plaintiff of the cases and two other government officials appeared before it.

The court also fixed February 6 for further hearing on a rule.

Earlier on January 20, the same HC bench passed the suo moto order following a report published on Daily Prothom Alo with a title : “Wrong accused in jail in 33 cases: Sir I am Jahalom, not Salek.”

Later, the HC summoned the ACC DG and the three to explain why a person named Jahalom, instead of the real accused, was in jail for the last three years.

The report said Jahalom, a jute mill worker, has been serving in jail in place of real accused Abu Salek in 33 cases of embezzling Tk 18 crore from Sonali Bank.