Imran Khan Handed 14-Year Jail Sentence In Corruption Case

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Imran Khan, Pakistan's former prime minister, speaks during an interview in Lahore, Pakistan, on Friday, June 2, 2023. Khan said Pakistan’s military establishment wanted to stop his opposition party from winning the next election, paving the way for a weak government as the country seeks to stave off a financial crisis. Photographer: Betsy Joles/Bloomberg

(Bloomberg) -- A Pakistani court handed former Prime Minister Imran Khan a prison sentence after finding him guilty of misusing power while in office.

An anti—graft court ordered Khan to 14 years in jail for accepting land illegally from a real estate tycoon, according to Samaa TV. The National Accountability Bureau had accused Khan of obtaining land from property developer Malik Riaz in return for legalizing equivalent to $239 million funds that were retrieved from the UK's National Crime Agency.

This is Khan's fifth sentence since his ouster from power in a 2022 parliamentary vote. He is in prison since 2023 after he was found guilty in four different cases from corruption to misuse of power and violating the Islamic wedding rules. Khan has denied charges in each case. In the past year, higher courts have overturned three of his earlier convictions, while suspending a fourth one. Khan remains in jail as trials are underway in several other cases.

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The former cricket star faces more than 150 cases, from corruption to inciting violence.

In the latest conviction, Khan was accused of using the money meant for Pakistan's treasury to pay fines for businessman Riaz in another court case. In return, Riaz gave land to Khan and his wife.

Since removed from power, Khan's political party has led several protest movements, without success, demanding his release from jail and new elections. The candidates loyal to Khan won the most seats in national election in February but failed to form a government as rivals including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif cobbled up a coalition government.

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