DHAKA, Nov 26, 2018 (BSS) – The High Court (HC) today scrapped a plea of Barrister Fakhrul Islam, lawyer for executed war criminal Salauddin Qader Chowdhury, to stay his sentence in a case lodged for leaking draft verdict in crimes against humanity case.
“The plea is being rejected as there is no provision to stay a sentence, when an appeal is still pending against the verdict at the lower court. The pleader can go to apex court if he wants.
The Appellate Division can make a settlement in principal, which can be followed by the High Court later,” the High Court said in its observation while passing the order.
The High Court division bench comprising Justice M. Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md. Mostafizur Rahman passed the order.
“Barrister Fakhrul had pleaded to stay his sentence and the High Court today rejected it with observation,” assistant attorney general Eusuf Mahmud Morshed said.
Bangladesh Cyber Tribunal on September 15, 2016, sentenced Barrister Fakhrul Islam to 10-year imprisonment and fined him Taka 10 lakh.
The court had sentenced Chowdhury’s manager KM Mahbubul Hasan, junior lawyer Mehedi Hasan, International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) staff Faruk Hossain and Nayan Ali to seven years imprisonment and fined them Taka 10 thousand each.
AKM Nasiruddin Mahmud, then Registrar of the ICT, filed a general diary with Shahbagh Police Station on October 2, 2013, over the leaking of a part of the draft verdict. On October 4, 2013, DB inspector Fazlur Rahman filed a case with the same police station in this regard.
It was disclosed later that Salauddin’s personal staff and his lawyers leaked the part of the draft verdict by bribing two tribunal staff.
On August 28, 2014, DB filed charge sheet against seven, including Salauddin’s wife Farhat and son Hummam.