Verdict lopsided, says Khoka

Former city mayor and BNP leader Sadeque Hossain Khoka, yesterday, termed the court sentence as “lopsided” and expressed hope that he would get justice from the higher court.
“The verdict was delivered in a hurry just to humiliate and harass me politically,” he said, while speaking to The Independent over telephone from New York, where he is currently undergoing treatment.
Alleging that he was a victim of misuse of law, he said he was not given any chance to defend himself. Khoka’s comments came hours after the court verdict that sentenced him to 13 years of imprisonment. The court also ordered to attach his properties. Khoka said he had gone to New York after obtaining a bail from the higher court. “I came to New York for treatment of cancer in kidney, as doctors advised non-stop treatment,” he added.

He regretted that he had submitted necessary papers and documents before the special judge court through his lawyers, but the court did not take it in its cognisance.
The former city BNP president also alleged that the court did not allow his lawyer to defend him. “The verdict was hurriedly delivered and the punishment was given because of my political identity,” he said. Khoka said the case was filed at a time of an unusual political situation in the country.
Replying to a question, he claimed that he has no illegal properties and cleared all his property taxes.
“I will face the court verdict as per law of the land and hope that I will get justice,” he said. Meanwhile, BNP spokesperson Dr Asaduzzaman Ripon, at a press briefing at the party’s central office, alleged that Khoka’s sentence smacked of a political vendetta.
“The verdict was given hurriedly to tarnish the image of Khoka and keep him out of politics and election,” he said.
Ripon also said the sentence would create a bad precedent in the eyes of law.
“Although Khoka is staying abroad, with permission from the higher court, he was shown as a fugitive, which is a bad precedent and illegal,” he added.

 

Verdict lopsided, says Khoka

Former city mayor and BNP leader Sadeque Hossain Khoka, yesterday, termed the court sentence as lopsided and expressed hope that he would get justice from the higher court. The verdict was delivered in a hurry just to humiliate and harass me politically, he said, while speaking to The Independent over telephone from New York, where he is currently undergoing treatment. Alleging that he was a victim of misuse of law, he said he was not given any chance to defend himself. Khokas comments came hours after the court verdict that sentenced him to 13 years of imprisonment. The court also ordered to attach his properties. Khoka said he had gone to New York after obtaining a bail from the higher court. I came to New York for treatment of cancer in kidney, as doctors advised non-stop treatment, he added. He regretted that he had submitted necessary papers and documents before the special judge court through his lawyers, but the court did not take it in its cognisance. The former city BNP president also alleged that the court did not allow his lawyer to defend him. The verdict was hurriedly delivered and the punishment was given because of my political identity, he said. Khoka said the case was filed at a time of an unusual political situation in the country. Replying to a question, he claimed that he has no illegal properties and cleared all his property taxes. I will face the court verdict as per law of the land and hope that I will get justice, he said. Meanwhile, BNP spokesperson Dr Asaduzzaman Ripon, at a press briefing at the partys central office, alleged that Khokas sentence smacked of a political vendetta. The verdict was given hurriedly to tarnish the image of Khoka and keep him out of politics and election, he said. Ripon also said the sentence would create a bad precedent in the eyes of law. Although Khoka is staying abroad, with permission from the higher court, he was shown as a fugitive, which is a bad precedent and illegal, he added.