Defence makes case in Jamaat leader Kamaruzzaman conviction appeal

The defence has finished making its case in war crimes convict Mohammad Kamaruzzaman's appeal against the death penalty.

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An Appellate Division bench led by senior judge Justice SK Sinha heard Kamaruzzaman's lawyer SM Shahjahan on Tuesday, who claimed his client was innocent.

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam began his deposition after him. After he finishes the defence may get an opportunity to reply.

The International Crimes Tribunal on May 9 last year sentenced Kamaruzzaman to death for his 'crimes against humanity' during the 1971 War of Independence.

He was the head of Al-Badr in Mymensingh during the war.

He appealed against the verdict on June 6 last year. Because of the death penalty, the State has not appealed in this case.

The Jamaat assistant secretary general was sentenced to death on charges of genocide at Sohagpur and for murder of Golam Mostafa.

Earlier the Appellate Division heard the appeals on war criminal Quader Molla and Delwar Hossain Sayedee. Molla's death sentence was carried out on Dec 12 last year.

Sayedee's hearing ended on Apr 16 and is pending a verdict.

This is the first time the chief justice is not in the bench hearing the appeals against verdicts of the war crimes cases.