Kamaruzzaman appeal verdict within a few hrs

The Supreme Court will pronounce its judgment within a few hours on the appeal filed by condemned war crimes convict M Kamaruzzaman, assistant secretary general of Jamaat-e Islami, challenging the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) sentence. Closing the arguments on appeal, a 4-member Appellate Division bench, headed by Justice SK Sinha, on September 17 kept its verdict pending to be delivered any day. The appeal hearing began on June 5. On May 9 last year, the ICT-2 sentenced M Kamaruzzaman to death for his crimes against humanity committed during Bangladesh’s independence struggles in 1971. On June 6 last year, Kamaruzzaman filed the appeal with the SC challenging the ICT-2 verdict. On June 4, 2012, the tribunal charged detained M Kamaruzzaman with 7 crimes against humanity committed during the war. Eighteen prosecution witnesses, including the investigation officer of the case, testified against Kamaruzzaman. Five people also testified for the accused, according to a news agency.