Prosecution for framing charges against Hasina, others in Niko graft case
Tuesday, 17 June 2008
The Anti-corruption Commission (ACC) Public Prosecutor (PP) Monday proposed framing charges against Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina and eight others in the Niko graft case, reports UNB.
"This is not a case of oral evidence, but it's a case of documentary evidence which would unveil the truth of the offence during trial," Chief Special Public Prosecutor (CSPP) Sharfuddin Khan Mukul told the special court of Judge AK Roy.
"There're enough materials to frame charges against the accused for initiating the trial," the ACC counsel said.
Opposing the prosecution move, defence lawyer Syed Rezaur Rahman told the court that the prosecution in the proposed motion did not disclose any offence committed by the accused in the Niko case.
The offence committed by the accused could not be justified in the light of theoretical exercise of the case, said the defence lawyer.
Terming the Niko gas exploration deal unsolicited, CSPP Mukul told the court that it was an evil design of individuals to pocket money illegally.
Niko was declared disqualified at the time of pre-qualification bid for development and exploration of gas fields, Mukul said, adding that Niko got the deal without tender and a joint venture agreement in this regard was awaiting the approval of the then Hasina government.
Earlier, ACC PP Syed Shameem Ahsan Habib formally moved the motion for framing charges against the accused under sections 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servant) and 109 (aid and abet) of the penal code and section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1947.
After a brief argument by the defence counsel, the hearing was adjourned till June 22 as Hasina's principal counsel Barrister Shafique Ahmed did not turn up because of his preoccupation in the higher court.
"This is not a case of oral evidence, but it's a case of documentary evidence which would unveil the truth of the offence during trial," Chief Special Public Prosecutor (CSPP) Sharfuddin Khan Mukul told the special court of Judge AK Roy.
"There're enough materials to frame charges against the accused for initiating the trial," the ACC counsel said.
Opposing the prosecution move, defence lawyer Syed Rezaur Rahman told the court that the prosecution in the proposed motion did not disclose any offence committed by the accused in the Niko case.
The offence committed by the accused could not be justified in the light of theoretical exercise of the case, said the defence lawyer.
Terming the Niko gas exploration deal unsolicited, CSPP Mukul told the court that it was an evil design of individuals to pocket money illegally.
Niko was declared disqualified at the time of pre-qualification bid for development and exploration of gas fields, Mukul said, adding that Niko got the deal without tender and a joint venture agreement in this regard was awaiting the approval of the then Hasina government.
Earlier, ACC PP Syed Shameem Ahsan Habib formally moved the motion for framing charges against the accused under sections 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servant) and 109 (aid and abet) of the penal code and section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1947.
After a brief argument by the defence counsel, the hearing was adjourned till June 22 as Hasina's principal counsel Barrister Shafique Ahmed did not turn up because of his preoccupation in the higher court.