ZCZC
BSS-01
APPEAL-KHALEDA-GRAFT
AD scraps Khaleda’s plea against trial in absentia
DHAKA, Oct 29, 2018 (BSS) – The Appellate Division (AD) of the Supreme
Court today scrapped an appeal filed by BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia
against a lower court order to try the BNP chairperson in her absence in a
graft case.
“Dismissed,” said an Appellate Division full bench headed by Chief
Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain as the matter came on the cause list this
morning.
The Appellate Division order now cleared way for Dhaka Special Judge
Court-5 to pronounce judgement in Zia Charitable Trust graft case against
Khaleda and three others later in the day.
Judge Md Akhtaruzzaman of Dhaka Special Judge Court-5 on October 16 set
the date on 29 October to pronounce judgement in the case as the defence
repeatedly refrained from taking part in the hearing on arguments in the
case.
“Khaleda Zia took time for around 40 times during the hearing of the
case. She didn’t appear before the court citing her confinement in another
case, even refrained from appearing before court over health reason. One day
she informed the court that she will not appear before it anymore.
The court at that stage had to set date to hear arguments in her absence.
But none from her 126-member strong defence team appeared before the court
also, making the court to set date for pronounce judgment,” Attorney General
Advocate Mahbubey Alam said yesterday.
“Khaleda’s counsels repeatedly wasted time of the court by filing time
plea. They do not take part in any kind of legal proceedings but plead for
bail whenever the bail period gets finished,” Anti-Corruption Commission
(ACC) counsel Mosharraf Hossain Kazal said earlier.
On October 14, the High Court rejected a revision plea filed by BNP
chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, upholding a lower court order that had said it
would continue the graft case proceedings in her absence.
The lower court on September 20 passed the order, saying it would hold
hearing of the case in Khaleda’s absence as she was “unwilling” to appear at
the makeshift court complex inside the Old Dhaka Central Jail.
The ACC filed the case with capital’s Tejgaon Police Station on August
8, 2010, for embezzling Taka 3.15 crore while police on January 16, 2012,
filed charge sheet against four including the ex-premier.
The other accused are Khaleda’s former political secretary Haris
Chowdhury, the then BIWTA director Ziaul Islam Munna and Monirul Islam Khan,
former personal secretary of former Dhaka city mayor Sadek Hossain Khoka.
The court framed charges against Khaleda and others in the case on March
19, 2014.
The BNP chairperson is now serving a five-year jail term in Zia
Orphanage Trust graft case.
BSS/DA-MHR/SA/1009 HRS