Zia Orphanage Trust graft case: SC decision on Khaleda’s plea for appeal nod on Monday

The Supreme Court has finished hearing a petition by BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia for the permission to appeal in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case and will deliver its decision on Monday.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 5 Nov 2017, 02:47 PM
Updated : 5 Nov 2017, 02:47 PM

On Sunday, an Appellate Division bench headed by Justice Md Abdul Wahhab Miah heard the ‘leave to appeal’ petition and set Monday to judge it, according to Khaleda’s lawyer Zakir Hossain Bhuiyan.

For the fourth time on Aug 6, Khaleda pleaded with the High Court to change the trial court for the case, citing lack of confidence in the judge.

But, the HC bench comprising Justice Shawkat Hossain and Justice Md Nazrul Islam scrapped the petition on Aug 20 and added some observations on the matter. Khaleda's counsel then filed the petition with the top court.

Dhaka-5 Special Judge Dr Md Akhtaruzzaman is currently hearing the case.

Earlier, the High Court changed judges thrice in two cases on Khaleda’s pleas, which the ACC views as “attempts by the former prime minister to delay the trial”.

On Sunday, AJ Mohammad Ali along with Bhuiyan stood for Khaleda while lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan argued for the Anti-Corruption Commission or ACC, the plaintiff of the case.

A special court set up in Old Dhaka is hearing two graft cases against Khaleda, involving Zia Orphanage Trust and Zia Charitable Trust.

The Zia Charitable Trust graft case was filed by the ACC in 2010 against the BNP chief and three others over the alleged embezzlement of Tk 31.5 million.

The Zia Orphanage Trust graft case was filed in 2008. The ACC case accuses Khaleda, her son Tarique Rahman and four others of embezzling Tk 21 million.