ACC appeals for 10 years jail for Khaleda

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) yesterday filed an appeal with the High Court challenging the 'inadequate' punishment given by the lower court concerned to BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case, reports BSS. "We have filed an appeal with concerned department of the High Court as the ACC thinks the punishment given to Khaleda Zia was inadequate. Being aggrieved by the lower court verdict, the ACC has filed the appeal," ACC counsel Khurshid Alam Khan said. On February 8 last, the Dhaka Special Judge Court-5 sentenced Khaleda Zia to five-year imprisonment in the graft case. It also sentenced five others, including Khaleda’s elder son and BNP Senior Vice Chairman Tarique Rahman, to 10-year imprisonment each.

The other persons convicted in the graft case are former lawmaker Kazi Salimul Haque Kamal, businessman Sharfuddin Ahmed, Dr Kamal Uddin Siddiqui and Khaleda’s nephew Mominur Rahman. While talking to newsmen, the ACC counsel said yesterday the main offender in the case has been given five-year imprisonment, while her associates were given 10-year imprisonment each. “ACC thinks the punishment given to the main offender is inadequate,” he added. The High Court on March 12 granted four-month bail to the BNP chairperson in the case. Following the order, the state and the ACC filed two appeals on March 13, pleading to stay the bail for four months. The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on March 19 stayed till May 8 the High Court order that allowed bail to Khaleda Zia. The apex court also asked the state, ACC and the defence to submit the concise statements on their respective appeals in the case within two weeks and set May 8 for holding hearing on the matter.

ACC appeals for 10 years jail for Khaleda

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) yesterday filed an appeal with the High Court challenging the inadequate punishment given by the lower court concerned to BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case, reports BSS. We have filed an appeal with concerned department of the High Court as the ACC thinks the punishment given to Khaleda Zia was inadequate. Being aggrieved by the lower court verdict, the ACC has filed the appeal, ACC counsel Khurshid Alam Khan said. On February 8 last, the Dhaka Special Judge Court-5 sentenced Khaleda Zia to five-year imprisonment in the graft case. It also sentenced five others, including Khaledas elder son and BNP Senior Vice Chairman Tarique Rahman, to 10-year imprisonment each. The other persons convicted in the graft case are former lawmaker Kazi Salimul Haque Kamal, businessman Sharfuddin Ahmed, Dr Kamal Uddin Siddiqui and Khaledas nephew Mominur Rahman. While talking to newsmen, the ACC counsel said yesterday the main offender in the case has been given five-year imprisonment, while her associates were given 10-year imprisonment each. ACC thinks the punishment given to the main offender is inadequate, he added. The High Court on March 12 granted four-month bail to the BNP chairperson in the case. Following the order, the state and the ACC filed two appeals on March 13, pleading to stay the bail for four months. The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on March 19 stayed till May 8 the High Court order that allowed bail to Khaleda Zia. The apex court also asked the state, ACC and the defence to submit the concise statements on their respective appeals in the case within two weeks and set May 8 for holding hearing on the matter.