Rangamati, Oct 9 (V7N) – A Rangamati court has sentenced United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF) leader Michael Chakma to eight years of rigorous imprisonment in an extortion case filed in 2007. The verdict was delivered by the Additional District and Sessions Judge’s Court on Wednesday afternoon and confirmed by the prosecution on Thursday.

According to court sources, the case was registered under Section 385 of the Penal Code 1860 (Case No. SC 36/9). Along with Michael Chakma, another accused, Suman Chakma, received the same sentence of eight years of rigorous imprisonment.

The case dates back to October 30, 2007, when the two men were arrested by security forces during an extortion operation in the Longadu area of Rangamati. Law enforcement officials seized weapons and cash during the arrest and later handed them over to Longadu Police Station, where the case was filed (Case No. 5, dated October 30, 2007; G.R. No. 330/2007).

After a prolonged legal process, the Rangamati Special Tribunal-2 had earlier sentenced Michael Chakma in a separate arms case on September 19, 2023, to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment for possession of illegal weapons, and seven years for issuing death threats and extortion. The court ruled that both sentences would run concurrently. His co-accused, Suman Chakma, was sentenced to seven years in prison for involvement in extortion and terrorist activities.

However, during the 2023 verdict, the sentence against Michael Chakma could not be enforced as he had reportedly gone missing. Thursday’s confirmation marks the latest development in the long-running legal proceedings against the UPDF leader.

The UPDF, a regional armed group opposing the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord, has been accused of engaging in extortion, armed violence, and intimidation across the hill districts.

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