ZCZC
BSS-25
SC-APPEAL-KHALEDA-GRAFT
Khaleda appeals against HC verdict in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case
DHAKA, March 14, 2019 (BSS) – BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia today filed
a leave to appeal plea with the apex court challenging High Court verdict
that enhanced her five-year jail term to 10 years in Zia Orphanage Trust
graft case.
“Apart from staying the sentence, the BNP chief also pleaded for bail in
the case. We hope hearing on the plea will be held soon,” Khaleda’s counsel
Barrister Kayser Kamal said.
Dhaka special judge court-5 on February 8, 2018, sentenced the BNP leader
to five-year imprisonment and other five accused including her “fugitive”
elder son and BNP’s senior vice chairman Tarique Rahman, to a 10-year
imprisonment each.
The court also fined them Taka 2.10 crore. “All of the accused played an
identical role in the crime. But her (Khaleda’s) jail term was brought down a
bit considering her age and social status,” the court said in its judgment.
The other convicts are former lawmaker Kazi Salimul Haque Kamal,
businessman Sharfuddin Ahmed, Dr Kamal Uddin Siddiqui, and her nephew Mominur
Rahman.
After the judgement, Khaleda, Kazi Salimul Haque Kamal and Sarfuddin Ahmed,
three convicts, who are now behind the bars, filed appeals against their
conviction.
The ACC too filed a revision plea to enhance Khaleda’s sentence.
The High Court in its order on October 30, 2018, enhanced BNP Chairperson
Begum Khaleda Zia’s five-year jail term to 10 years in the case.
BSS/DA/JUB/MHR/RY/1705 hrs