Verdict on graft case against Ershad Aug 27

After the completion of arguments from the prosecution and the defence, Judge SM Mojibur Rahman of the First Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court yesterday set the date to deliver the verdict.

The court could not complete arguments of the case, as the prosecution and the defence had sought time on different excuses since August 2002.

Additional Public Prosecutor Golam Mostafa Khan argued that the charges brought against Ershad in the FIR (first information report), charge sheet and statements of the prosecution witnesses of the case were primarily proved. So, he prayed for punishment of the accused.

Opposing the arguments of the prosecution, defence lawyer Sheikh Serajul Islam told the court his client had directed authorities concerned to allot the 49 plots maintaining proper procedures. So, his client should be acquitted, the lawyer added.

Earlier, the court had only recorded statements of four prosecution witnesses, even though the trial began on April 23, 1998.

According to the prosecution, Ershad, while in power, violated provisions of the government and the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) and directed authorities concerned to allot plots in Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara and Uttara residential areas to 49 people during 1988-1990.

Mohammad Sajjad Hossain, an official of the defunct Bureau of Anti-corruption filed a case against Ershad with Motijheel Police Station on April 22, 1991. The investigation officer (IO) of the case pressed charges against Ershad and the then chairman of Rajuk Rahamat Ullah on December 9 the same year.

The court framed charges against Ershad and acquitted Rahamat after finding no conclusive evidence against him on March 9, 1992.

Gold Smuggling Case

The same court adjourned the hearing of the gold smuggling case filed against Ershad until August 27 following a time petition filed by the prosecution.

The adjournment came as the prosecution witnesses of the case did not appear before the court yesterday.

According to the prosecution, a team of customs officials picked up four people including two foreign nationals from Zia International Airport (ZIA) on July 17, 1990 when they were attempting to smuggle 3,000 tolas of gold, worth around Tk 2.5 crore, into Bangladesh.

A smuggling case was filed against the arrestees -- Bernhard Rudiger of Germany, David Anthony Chalmar Chaker of England, the then manager of ZIA Major (retd) Ashraf Uddin Sekender and a security guard of ZIA Abu Taher -- with Cantonment Police Station on the same day.

During the investigation of the case the IO found evidence of Ershad being involved in the smuggling and his name was included in the charge sheet.

Bernhard, David, Ashraf and Taher were convicted and sent to prison on different terms in connection with the smuggling of the gold bars on May 14, 1992. The trial of this case against Ershad did not start due to a stay order from the higher court.