Arraignment hearing in Niko scam case against Khaleda deferred to July 7
Friday, 27 June 2008
A special court failed Thursday to open the prosecution case for proposing charge against detained former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and 10 others in the Niko gas-deal scam case as the defence counsel threatened to walk out, reports UNB.
As the court resumed at 10:07am, Judge Khondoker Kamal Uzzaman told the defence counsel that he wanted to open the case as Thursday was fixed for charge hearing.
The lawyers of the high-profile accused stood opposed, telling the court that they would move to the High Court seeking redress against its earlier order rejecting their objection to the concurrent run of the identical Niko graft cases against two former premiers.
A separate Niko graft case against another former Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, now abroad on interim release from prison for treatment, is also under trial in another special court set up in the parliament complex for trial of VIP prisoners under the current purge under the interim regime.
The defence counsel further submitted that they received the certified copy of the court order Thursday. They sought for adjournment as the High Court is now in vacation.
In response to the defence plea, the court agreed to give time subject to opening of the case by the prosecution. The defence attorneys received the court's insistence with a row in the courtroom.
Amid this fracas, co-accused detained former law minister Moudud Ahmed, from the dock, asked the court what for and why the court was insisting on opening the case today (Thursday). "Is there any pressure from any quarter on the court?" he asked.
Making no comment on such a presumptive enquiry, the court held back the hearing on framing charges until July 7.
Earlier, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, along with her two former cabinet colleagues - Moudud Ahmed and Khondoker Mosharrof Hossain - and five others were produced before the court amid tight security.
Three other co-accused persons -Kamal Siddiqui, Kashem Sharif of Niko Resources and a government officer - are on the run.
On December 9 last year, the Anti-corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case against Khaleda and 10 others with the Tejgaon Police Station, amid a crackdown on high-profile corruption suspects following the Jasnuary 11, 2007 changeover.
As the court resumed at 10:07am, Judge Khondoker Kamal Uzzaman told the defence counsel that he wanted to open the case as Thursday was fixed for charge hearing.
The lawyers of the high-profile accused stood opposed, telling the court that they would move to the High Court seeking redress against its earlier order rejecting their objection to the concurrent run of the identical Niko graft cases against two former premiers.
A separate Niko graft case against another former Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, now abroad on interim release from prison for treatment, is also under trial in another special court set up in the parliament complex for trial of VIP prisoners under the current purge under the interim regime.
The defence counsel further submitted that they received the certified copy of the court order Thursday. They sought for adjournment as the High Court is now in vacation.
In response to the defence plea, the court agreed to give time subject to opening of the case by the prosecution. The defence attorneys received the court's insistence with a row in the courtroom.
Amid this fracas, co-accused detained former law minister Moudud Ahmed, from the dock, asked the court what for and why the court was insisting on opening the case today (Thursday). "Is there any pressure from any quarter on the court?" he asked.
Making no comment on such a presumptive enquiry, the court held back the hearing on framing charges until July 7.
Earlier, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, along with her two former cabinet colleagues - Moudud Ahmed and Khondoker Mosharrof Hossain - and five others were produced before the court amid tight security.
Three other co-accused persons -Kamal Siddiqui, Kashem Sharif of Niko Resources and a government officer - are on the run.
On December 9 last year, the Anti-corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case against Khaleda and 10 others with the Tejgaon Police Station, amid a crackdown on high-profile corruption suspects following the Jasnuary 11, 2007 changeover.