Top criminal Joseph�s death penalty commuted

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court yesterday commuted the death sentence of Tofayel Ahmed Joseph, one of 24 top criminals of the 1990s, to life imprisonment in a case filed for killing a businessman at Lalmatia in the capital in 1996.
The three-member bench of the Appellate Division, headed by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha, delivered the verdict after hearing an appeal filed by Joseph challenging a High Court verdict that had upheld his death penalty in connection with the case. The apex court also acquitted another accused Md Kabil Sarker, who was awarded life term imprisonment by the High Court in the case.
In 2004, a speedy trial tribunal had awarded Joseph and Masud Jamaddar death sentences finding them guilty in the case filed over the on May 8, 1996 murder of Freedom Party leader Mustafizur Rahman of Dhaka’s Mohammadpur. The tribunal also sentenced three other accused — Kabil Sarker, Haris Ahmed, and Anis Ahmed — to life-term imprisonment. Haris and Anis, siblings of Joseph, are still on the run.
However, following their appeals the High Court had acquitted Masud Jamaddar of the murder charge.
Advocate AM Amin Uddin, counsel for Joseph, told reporters that the apex court has only commuted the death sentence of Joseph, who is now undergoing treatment at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University under police custody.
Joseph was arrested 17 years ago. He had been accused in at least 11 cases, among which were charges of extortion, murder and possession of illegal arms. Ten of the cases had subsequently been dismissed, according to the lawyers.

Top criminal Joseph�s death penalty commuted

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court yesterday commuted the death sentence of Tofayel Ahmed Joseph, one of 24 top criminals of the 1990s, to life imprisonment in a case filed for killing a businessman at Lalmatia in the capital in 1996. The three-member bench of the Appellate Division, headed by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha, delivered the verdict after hearing an appeal filed by Joseph challenging a High Court verdict that had upheld his death penalty in connection with the case. The apex court also acquitted another accused Md Kabil Sarker, who was awarded life term imprisonment by the High Court in the case. In 2004, a speedy trial tribunal had awarded Joseph and Masud Jamaddar death sentences finding them guilty in the case filed over the on May 8, 1996 murder of Freedom Party leader Mustafizur Rahman of Dhakas Mohammadpur. The tribunal also sentenced three other accused Kabil Sarker, Haris Ahmed, and Anis Ahmed to life-term imprisonment. Haris and Anis, siblings of Joseph, are still on the run. However, following their appeals the High Court had acquitted Masud Jamaddar of the murder charge. Advocate AM Amin Uddin, counsel for Joseph, told reporters that the apex court has only commuted the death sentence of Joseph, who is now undergoing treatment at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University under police custody. Joseph was arrested 17 years ago. He had been accused in at least 11 cases, among which were charges of extortion, murder and possession of illegal arms. Ten of the cases had subsequently been dismissed, according to the lawyers.