Minister Maya�s acquittal of graft charges scrapped
Appellate Division asks High Court to rehear case
The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court yesterday scrapped a High Court order acquitting Relief and Disaster Management Minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya in a graft case.
The Appellate Division also asked the High Court to rehear the case in which Maya, also a senior Awami League leader, was jailed for 13 years by a special court in Dhaka in 2008.
A three-member bench of the Appellate Division, headed by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha, came up with the orders in response to an appeal filed by the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC).
After the apex court order, ACC lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan told reporters that the Supreme Court has accepted the anti-graft watchdogs leave-to-appeal petition and ordered the High Court to hold fresh hearings in the case.
Following the apex court order, the High Court will have to go for further hearing in this case, he said adding that it will be assumed that the minister is on bail now.
On October 27, 2010, ACC Assistant Director Nurul Alam filed the case with the Sutrapur Police Station in Dhaka accusing Maya of amassing illegal property worth about Tk 3 million.
A special court on February 14, 2008, during the regime of army-backed caretaker government, sentenced the Awami League leader to 13 years in prison and fined him Tk 5 crore. The court also directed the authorities concerned to confiscate Mayas property.
Following an appeal of Maya, the High Court on October 27, 2010 acquitted him of the charges.
After the SC order yesterday, The Independent tried to contact the minister over phone for his comment, but it was switched off.
