Court throws Ershad's election ambitions into uncertainty

bdpublic · Editor Joined: 30 Nov 2006 Posts: 39

Dhaka, Dec 14 (bdnews24.com) – Embattled HM Ershad Thursday ran into a huge hurdle to elections after the High Court rejected his appeal against conviction in the Japanese boat purchase case.

"I didn't get justice. I will appeal against the verdict," the former president told bdnews24.com, hours after Justice Faysal Mahmud Fayzi handed down the judgement hearing the case for a third day.

The court however cut the earlier sentence, which was issued in 1995, from three years to two years.

If the court verdict stays on, Ershad will be barred from taking part in the elections slated for January 23.

In instant reactions, Awami League President Sheikh Hasina alleged that the High Court was dictated by an invisible hand and the sentencing was timed with the dimming possibility of Ershad joining hands with the BNP and its allies.

Hasina claimed that the court sentenced Ershad to two years before the hearing on the case was complete.

AL General Secretary Abdul Jalil, presidium member Tofail Ahmed and LDP Organising Secretary Mahi B Chowdhury met Ershad at his President Park home at Baridhara Thursday to console him in times of "political harassment".

Tofail told bdnews24.com: "We are continuing a united movement. Now he is subject to political harassment. We went there to express our sympathy."

State prosecutor Helaluddin Mollah said the conviction in the case disqualified Ershad for the next election.

Mollah said: "Ershad has to surrender to the lower court and file an appeal to the Appellate Division in 30 days. The court will later fix a timeframe on his surrender."

But Vice Chairman of Bangladesh Bar Council Barrister Rokanuddin Mahmud said Ershad served out six years in prison and was not able to take part in the previous elections. "This time he has no bar to elections."

Rokanuddin said: "Lawyers for Ershad said they were given time for hearing. I find politics in the quick disposal of the case."

He alleged that the case was revived as Ershad planned to join the 14-party alliance.

Dhaka Divisional Special Judge's Court convicted Ershad in the boat purchase case on July 6, 1995 and sentenced him to three years in jail.

It was alleged in the case that Ershad using his presidential influence embezzled Tk 6 crore in the purchase of 520 boats and 10 water purifiers for the disaster management ministry costing Tk 33 crore in 1989.

Deputy director of the then Bureau of Anti-Corruption AKM Hossain filed the case with Ramna police station on July 22, 1991.

Jatiya Party activists led by Secretary General Ruhul Amin Howlader Thursday brought out a procession and shouted slogans against President Iajuddin Ahmed and the judge.

Howlader described the revival of the case and the verdict as motivated and unprecedented. "The verdict was made to destroy Jatiya Party."

Former president of Supreme Court Lawyers Association Advocate Abdul Baset Majumder said: "A case follows its own course. But people questioned the motive of the case as it moved quickly to court soon after Ershad's 14-party alliance plan."

Six platoons of police were deployed to the court for fear of violence after the verdict.

In Thursday's hearing, Ershad's lawyer Ajmalul Hossain, QC said the Japanese boat purchase case was political.

He said Ershad sought time-extension until January 15 for preparation to move the case.

The High Court rejected the appeal for time extension at 11:30am, prompting Ershad's lawyer to appeal against the rejection to the Appellate Division.

In the High Court, the delivery of the verdict took off at 2:30pm. The HC suspended the judgement for one hour after it was informed about the appeal to the Appellate Division.

The HC turned to Attorney General AJ Mohammad Ali for opinion and he said the court could go ahead with proceedings, as the Appellate Division did not pass a stay order.

The delivery of the verdict ended at 4:15pm, throwing Ershad's election ambitions into uncertainty.

Source: bdnews24.com
http://www.bdnews24.com/details.php?cid=2&id=52854#tp52854

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