Ershad gold smuggling case verdict on Sep 6
Wednesday, 15 August 2007
The judgment in the gold smuggling case filed against Jatiya Party Chairman and former president HM Ershad will be delivered on September 6.
First Additional Metropo-litan Sessions Judge of Dhaka Md Abul Bashar set the judgment date at 12:30pm after hearing the defence arguments in the presence of the accused, reports bdnews24.com.
Sheikh Sirajul Islam, Ershad's lawyer told the news agency that none of eight witnesses listed in the case admitted to 'Ershad being involved in the alleged gold smuggling'.
According to the case details, the airport customs officials arrested four persons including two citizens of England and Germany at Zia International Airport (ZIA) on July 9, 1990. They recovered 3,000 tolas of gold from them.
Customs and VAT Inspector Md Zakaria filed a case with Dhaka Cantonment police station against the two foreigners, manager of ZIA Ashraf Uddin and security officer Abu Taher in this connection.
After investigation, the Crime Investigation Depar-tment (CID) of police submitted supplementary charge-sheet, appending Ershad's name as a co-accused in the case.
After Ershad filed an appeal with the High Court (HC) for cancelling the case, the HC suspended Ershad's trial in connection with the case.
The four other accused in the case were, however, convicted on May 14, 1992 to serve various jail sentences.
First Additional Metropo-litan Sessions Judge of Dhaka Md Abul Bashar set the judgment date at 12:30pm after hearing the defence arguments in the presence of the accused, reports bdnews24.com.
Sheikh Sirajul Islam, Ershad's lawyer told the news agency that none of eight witnesses listed in the case admitted to 'Ershad being involved in the alleged gold smuggling'.
According to the case details, the airport customs officials arrested four persons including two citizens of England and Germany at Zia International Airport (ZIA) on July 9, 1990. They recovered 3,000 tolas of gold from them.
Customs and VAT Inspector Md Zakaria filed a case with Dhaka Cantonment police station against the two foreigners, manager of ZIA Ashraf Uddin and security officer Abu Taher in this connection.
After investigation, the Crime Investigation Depar-tment (CID) of police submitted supplementary charge-sheet, appending Ershad's name as a co-accused in the case.
After Ershad filed an appeal with the High Court (HC) for cancelling the case, the HC suspended Ershad's trial in connection with the case.
The four other accused in the case were, however, convicted on May 14, 1992 to serve various jail sentences.