Molla appeal hearing Mar 31

The Appellate Division on Sunday morning set Mar 31 as the date to begin hearing on the state's appeal against the life sentence of Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General Abdul Quader Molla. It will also hear the appeal by his defence against the verdict.

The appellate division, headed by Chief Justice Mohammad Muzammel Hossain, has fixed the date of the hearing.

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam, Additional Attorney General MK Rahman and ex-Judge Syed Amirul Islam attended the hearing on behalf of the state.

Lawyer Abdur Razzaq was present representing Quader Molla.

Both state and defence had appealed against the verdict of Quader Molla, MK Rahman told bdnews24.com. “Hearing of both would begin simultaneously from Mar 31.”

The Appellate Division had sought summary of appeal from both parties within Mar 24. MK Rahman said the state had already submitted the papers.

Convicted in five of the six charges brought against him, Quader Molla was sentenced for life in prison by International Crimes Tribunal-2 on Feb 5. He was sentenced 15 years in prison for two charges and for life in prison for two other charges.

State had appealed for death penalty for all of the six charges (after amendment to ICT law) on Mar 3. On the other hand, defence had appealed for acquittal in all of them.

According to latest amendments to ICT law, appeal hearing must be cleared within 60 days.

The amendments to International Crimes (Tribunals) Act, 1973 were made on Feb 17 this year to section 21, Right of Appeal. Latest amendments allowed equal rights of appeal to both prosecution and defence.

It also allowed trial of any organisation or party for war crimes.

Earlier, the 2009 amendment to the ICT law allowed prosecution the right to appeal only against an acquittal only. The original ICT Act, 1973 did not allow prosecution any right of appeal.