A former Bangladeshi judge was today sentenced to four years rigorous imprisonment for possessing 342 bottles of banned cough syrup phensidyl, a popular drug in the country.
Javed Imam was found "guilty" of the charges, Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge of Dhaka Ruhul Amin said while sentencing him to four years rigorous imprisonment.
Imam, who was the senior assistant judge of southwestern Bhola district until his arrest nine months ago, was also fined Takas 10,000 (USD 130). He will serve additional two months in jail if he fails to pay the fine.
The 32-year-old former judge was arrested on December 1, 2012 with 342 bottles of the syrup on a tip off following which the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs suspended him.
According to police Imam had intended to sell the syrup.
Imam said he will challenge the verdict with the higher court, The Daily Star reported.
Phensidyl, which contains codeine phosphate, was first prescribed as a cough syrup in Bangladesh, but was banned in the late 1980s due to its overwhelming popularity as a recreational drug.
Governments in Bangladesh have tried to curb Phensidyl smuggling and urged authorities in India to tackle illegal syrup makers who set up factories across the border to meet demand in this country.
