Stay on Niko graft trial against Moudud upheld
UNB
The Supreme Court on Sunday upheld a High Court order that stayed the trial proceedings against BNP leader Moudud Ahmed in the Niko graft case for eight weeks, reports UNB.
A four-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha passed the order after hearing a petition filed by the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) challenging the HC stay order.
The apex court also asked the High Court bench led by Justice M Enayetur Rahim to dispose by January 19 next a High Court rule that asked the authorities for explanation why the proceeding of this case will not be scrapped. Earlier on December 1, HC stayed the trial proceedings against the BNP leader in the case for eight weeks.
An HC bench comprising Justice Sheikh Abdul Awal and Justice Shahidul Karim passed the order following a petition filed by Moudud Ahmed. The ACC on December 9, 2007 filed the Niko graft case against Moudud and four others in connection with a Tk 137.77 loss to the national exchequer caused by the signing of an oil-gas exploration agreement with Niko during the previous BNP regime. Later on May 5, 2008, it submitted the chargesheet against 11 people.
