Charge hearing deferred
Thursday, 7 June 2007
The charge hearing of a graft case against former telecommunication minister Mohammad Nasim could not be held Wednesday as the defence counsel sought time to start the hearing, reports UNB.
Seeking two weeks' time, Anisul Huq, the defence counsel for Nasim, told the special anti-graft court that the hearing should start in presence of the co-accused in the case.
He also told the court that the co-accused, now on bail, left for Canada for treatment. But Public Prosecutor (PP) of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) opposed the defence counsel's plea.
After hearing both sides, Judge Shahed Nooruddin of the makeshift court, set up at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, fixed today (Thursday) for order on the matter.
As the court resumed, detained Nasim, also a front-ranking Awami League leader, was produced before it amid tight security.
According to the case, Nasim by abusing power allowed WorldTel Hol-dings Limited to install 0.30 million digital telephones in the country without tender.
Nasim's associate AHS Rahman of the Consociates Limited was also accused in the case as he was "illegally" appointed consultant by the then telecommunication minister to supervise the project that harmed the country's interests.
Abdul Haye, an officer of the now-defunct Bureau of Anti-Corruption, filed the case against Nasim and Rahman with Ramna police station on January 8, 2002.
He also investigated the case and submitted the charge sheet against them on June 13, 2002.
Seeking two weeks' time, Anisul Huq, the defence counsel for Nasim, told the special anti-graft court that the hearing should start in presence of the co-accused in the case.
He also told the court that the co-accused, now on bail, left for Canada for treatment. But Public Prosecutor (PP) of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) opposed the defence counsel's plea.
After hearing both sides, Judge Shahed Nooruddin of the makeshift court, set up at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, fixed today (Thursday) for order on the matter.
As the court resumed, detained Nasim, also a front-ranking Awami League leader, was produced before it amid tight security.
According to the case, Nasim by abusing power allowed WorldTel Hol-dings Limited to install 0.30 million digital telephones in the country without tender.
Nasim's associate AHS Rahman of the Consociates Limited was also accused in the case as he was "illegally" appointed consultant by the then telecommunication minister to supervise the project that harmed the country's interests.
Abdul Haye, an officer of the now-defunct Bureau of Anti-Corruption, filed the case against Nasim and Rahman with Ramna police station on January 8, 2002.
He also investigated the case and submitted the charge sheet against them on June 13, 2002.