Koko exempted from personal appearance in court
Thursday, 26 June 2008
A special court Wednesday dispensed with personal attendance of detained accused Arafat Rahman Koko during the trial proceedings in the GATCO graft case, reports UNB.
After hearing both the defence and the ACC prosecution lawyers, Judge Shahed Noor Uddin granted Koko's petition on health ground.
Koko, who faces the GATCO graft case along with his mother detained former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, filed the petition Tuesday under section 540A of the CrPC.
The relevant section empowers a judge to exempt a detained accused, who is incapable of staying before the court, from personal attendance during case proceedings.
Henceforth, Koko, who suffers from acute lung problem along with neurological ailments, will be represented by his lawyer during the process of trial.
Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokon, the counsel for Koko, told the news agency that the latest petition of Koko came as supplementary to an earlier petition submitted to the government for his treatment abroad.
After hearing both the defence and the ACC prosecution lawyers, Judge Shahed Noor Uddin granted Koko's petition on health ground.
Koko, who faces the GATCO graft case along with his mother detained former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, filed the petition Tuesday under section 540A of the CrPC.
The relevant section empowers a judge to exempt a detained accused, who is incapable of staying before the court, from personal attendance during case proceedings.
Henceforth, Koko, who suffers from acute lung problem along with neurological ailments, will be represented by his lawyer during the process of trial.
Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokon, the counsel for Koko, told the news agency that the latest petition of Koko came as supplementary to an earlier petition submitted to the government for his treatment abroad.