SC commutes death penalty of child rapist after review
The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court yesterday in a review case commuted the death sentence of a man named Shukur Ali over the rape and murder of a seven-year old in 1996.
This is the first ever case of review by the apex court where it has lowered its own death sentence, said former additional attorney general MK Rahman, also a counsel for the petitioner. Reviewing its earlier death penalty order, the apex court reduced it to jail unto death. Shukur is already in prison for the last 14 years.
A four-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha passed the order, disposing of a petition filed by Shukur Ali seeking review of his death penalty. Advocate MK Rahman, counsel for Ali, told reporters, So far I know, this is the first time since the independence of the country that the apex court reviewed its decision and lowered the death penalty.
Attorney General Mahbubey Alam was present in court on behalf of the state.
The trial of the then 14-year-old Ali had started in 1999 for the June 11, 1996 rape and murder of a seven-year-old of Shibrampur Village of Manikganj.
On 12 July 2001, Shukkur Ali was sentenced to death by Manikganjs Women and Children Repression Prevention Court for raping and killing the seven-year old child.
