Arms haul probe deadline extended for ninth time
Monday, 26 July 2010
CHITTAGONG, July 25 (bdnews24.com): The Chittagong court dealing with the sensational 10 truck arms haul case has for the ninth time given the police additional time to complete their investigation.
The judge, however, ordered the investigators to submit the charge sheet in this case within the new extended period of 61 days.
Judge Inamul Haque Bhuiyan of the Chittagong Metropolitan Sessions Judges’ court allowed the extension Sunday following a petition submitted Thursday by Maniruzzaman Chowdhury, senior assistant superintendent of police's Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the investigation officer (IO) in the case, for further time to carry out their inquiries into the incident.
Kamal Uddin, state counsel and public prosecutor of the related court, told the news agency that the judge had extended the investigation period until September 26.
He said an extension was needed to allow preparation of the charge sheet and to make further queries.
The police seized 10 truckloads of weapons and ammunition from the CUFL jetty in Chittagong on the night of April 1 2004, sparking speculation that the cache was allegedly destined for the Indian insurgent group United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA).
Following a court order on February 12, 2008, the CID appointed Ismail Hossain as the investigation officer in the arms haul case who had twice approached the court to obtain an extension period to complete the investigation.
On January 18 last year, the court ordered a change in investigation officer and Moniruzzaman tookover charge.
In the course of his investigation, Moniruzzaman arrested a number of high-profile suspects, including two former directors general of the National Security Intelligence and navy officers and secured their confession.
However, Moniruzzaman also got three extensions.
The judge, however, ordered the investigators to submit the charge sheet in this case within the new extended period of 61 days.
Judge Inamul Haque Bhuiyan of the Chittagong Metropolitan Sessions Judges’ court allowed the extension Sunday following a petition submitted Thursday by Maniruzzaman Chowdhury, senior assistant superintendent of police's Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the investigation officer (IO) in the case, for further time to carry out their inquiries into the incident.
Kamal Uddin, state counsel and public prosecutor of the related court, told the news agency that the judge had extended the investigation period until September 26.
He said an extension was needed to allow preparation of the charge sheet and to make further queries.
The police seized 10 truckloads of weapons and ammunition from the CUFL jetty in Chittagong on the night of April 1 2004, sparking speculation that the cache was allegedly destined for the Indian insurgent group United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA).
Following a court order on February 12, 2008, the CID appointed Ismail Hossain as the investigation officer in the arms haul case who had twice approached the court to obtain an extension period to complete the investigation.
On January 18 last year, the court ordered a change in investigation officer and Moniruzzaman tookover charge.
In the course of his investigation, Moniruzzaman arrested a number of high-profile suspects, including two former directors general of the National Security Intelligence and navy officers and secured their confession.
However, Moniruzzaman also got three extensions.