ZCZC
BSS-39
ACC-CHAIRMAN-KHALEDA
No politics behind verdict against Khaleda Zia: ACC chairman
DHAKA, Oct 29, 2018 (BSS) – The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Chairman Iqbal Mahmood said today there is no relevance of politics with the verdict that awarded seven years imprisonment to BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia in the Zia Charitable Trust corruption case.
“—there is nothing regarding politics. I don’t think there is any politics as we are seeing documents of cases not politics,” he said in replying to a query whether there is any politics behind the verdict in the graft case against Khaleda Zia while leaving the ACC headquarters here.
Asked about his reaction about the verdict, he said, “There is nothing to give reaction over the verdict. ACC had filed the case and its prosecution team had been able to probe it beyond doubt and the learned court gave the verdict at its own judgment. This is my reaction.”
“There is nothing to be satisfied or dissatisfied as the learned court has given the verdict considering witnesses of the prosecution team,” he continued while giving answer to another question.
A Dhaka court today sentenced BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia to seven years in prison, the maximum punishment under the act concerned, in the Zia Charitable Trust graft case, the second graft charge in which the ex-premier was convicted.
Three others, including Khaleda’s former political secretary Haris Chowdhury, were also awarded seven-year imprisonment each in the case.
Judge Md Akhtaruzzaman of Dhaka Special Judge Court-5 delivered the verdict around 12.10 noon. The court also fined them Taka 10 lakh each, in default, to suffer six months more in jail.
The court also ordered confiscation of 42 kathas of land bought in the name of Zia Charitable Trust in favour of the state.
BSS/ASG/AHJ/KU/1943 HRS