DHAKA, Oct 23, 2018 (BSS) – The state and Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in the hearing on appeals in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case have pleaded for life imprisonment for prime convict Begum Khaleda Zia.
The anti-graft body and the state made the plea while taking part in the hearing on appeals filed to increase punishment of the BNP chief.
“We have concluded our hearing on appeals to increase Khaleda Zia’s punishment challenging the lower court conviction. The maximum punishment in this graft case is life imprisonment. We have pleaded to sentence her to life imprisonment,” ACC counsel Khurshid Alam Khan told newsmen.
Meanwhile, the defence pleaded for time to take part in the hearing and walked out of court as it canceled their time plea.
The court of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md. Mostafizur Rahman after the hearing, set tomorrow to pass order.
Dhaka Special Judge Court-5 on February 8 convicted Khaleda Zia and sentenced her to five-year imprisonment in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case. It also sentenced five other accused, including Khaleda’s elder son and BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, to 10-year imprisonment each.
The other accused are former lawmaker Kazi Salimul Haque Kamal, businessman Sharfuddin Ahmed, Dr Kamal Uddin Siddiqui, and Khaleda’s nephew Mominur Rahman.
Of the six, only three including Khaleda are in jail, while three others including her son Tarique are yet to be arrested.