The convicts are Assistant Sub-inspector (ASI) Khalil Ullah and Nayek (non-commissioned officer) Abdul Bari and their two informers Shahadat Hossain and Mohammad Jasim.

The court also fined them Tk 5,000 each, in default they have to suffer six months more in jail.

Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Shafiqul Islam of Speedy Trial Court-1 handed down the sentence in presence of the convicts.

The court acquitted three constables Shamsuzzaman, Korban Ali and Rafiqul Islam and their informer Mohammad Ripon as the charges brought against them were not proved.

Earlier, the prosecution and the defence completed their arguments and the court recorded statements of 20 prosecution witnesses.

The convicts snatched 13 kilograms of silver ornaments and Tk 28,000 in cash from Sohel Rana and Habib, employees of a jewellery, City Silver House, at Tantibazar in Old Dhaka on July 20.

The next day, Sohel filed an extortion case with Kotwali Police Station against Khalil Ullah, Nayek Abdul Bari and constable Shamsuzzaman and four others.

Detective Branch (DB) of police on July 30, 2005 pressed charges against five cops and their three informers in the case.

DB Sub-inspector (SI) and the investigation officer (IO) of the case, Rezaul Hossain submitted the chargesheet to the Court of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Dhaka, showing 20 people as prosecution witnesses.

The court framed charges against the accused on August 25 last year and its trial began on September the same year with deposition of Sohel Rana, complainant of the case.

The complainant Sohel Rana was present in the court yesterday and expressed his satisfaction over the verdict.