Nobel laureate Yunus sentenced to 6 months in jail

A labour court in Dhaka on Monday sentenced Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr Muhammad Yunus to six months in jail for violating the country's labour laws, a verdict that was termed as "politically motivated" by his supporters ahead of the January 7 general elections.

Yunus, who pioneered using microcredit to help impoverished people, was present in court and was granted bail. The court gave the defense 30 days to appeal.

Grameen Telecom, which he founded as a non-profit, is at the center of the trial.

Sheikh Merina Sultana, head of the Third Labor Court of Dhaka, said in her verdict Yunus' company violated labor laws: 67 of Grameen Telecom employees were supposed to be made permanent, and the employees' participation and welfare funds were not formed. She also said that following company policy, 5% of the company's dividends were supposed to be distributed to staff.

Sultana found Yunus, as chairman of the company, and three other company directors guilty, sentencing each to six months in jail.

"The allegation of violating the labour law against him has been proved. It appears that the allegation has not been barred by limitation (either)," the judge said, pronouncing the judgment while Yunus was in the dock.