Split verdict in Jhenidah blasts case

Dhaka, July 17 (bdnews24.com) ? The High Court has delivered split verdict in the case relating to the 21 death sentence awarded members of Jama'tul Mujahideen for the series of bomb blasts in Jhenidah on Aug 17, 2005.

Following a hearing on Sunday justice Syed Mohammad Ziaul Karim acquitted all the convicted, while justice Abdur Rab reduced punishment of 14 to life term and acquitted the rest.

The verdict would now be referred to the chief justice. "It'll be resolved in a third court in line with the law," deputy attorney general of the bench Abdul Mannan Mohan told reporters.

The 21 members of the banned Islamist outfit were given death sentence on Feb 28, 2006 by a special tribunal of Jhenidah.

Mannan said the convicted were acquitted by justice Karim as the charges against them were not proved.

The other justice acquitted seven convicts as charges were pressed against them rejecting the investigation officer's recommendation to drop their names. "Punishment of others was reduced considering their age," Momin added.

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Koko verdict baseless: Alamgir

Koko verdict baseless: Alamgir .template_width { width:980px; }#gk_wrapper { width:980px; }#gk_mainbody { margin: 18px 0px 0px 0px;padding:0;border-width:0;}#gk_left { width:0px;margin: 0px 18px 0px 0px;padding: 0px 18px 0px 0px;border-width:0; }#gk_right { width:300px;margin: 0px 0px 0px 18px;padding: 0px 0px 0px 18px;border-width:0; }#left_one { width:0px;margin:0;padding:0;border-width:0; }#left_two { width:100%;margin:0;padding:0;border-width:0; }#right_one { width:0px;margin:0;padding:0;border-width:0; }#right_two { width:100%;margin: 0px 0px 0px 18px;padding: 0px 0px 0px 18px;border-width:0; }#inset_left { width:0px;margin:0;padding:0;border-width:0; }#inset_right { width:0px;margin:0;padding:0;border-width:0; }#gk_content { width:644px;margin:0;padding:0;border-width:0; }#gk_current { width:644px;margin:0;padding:0;border-width:0; }#gk_bottom { margin: 18px 0px 0px 0px;padding:0;border-width:0; }#gk_bottom1 { margin:0;padding:0;border-width:0; }#gk_bottom2 { margin:0;padding:0;border-width:0; }#gk_footer { margin: 18px 0px 18px 0px;padding: 6px 0px 6px 0px;border-width: 1px 0px 4px 0px; }body {font-size: 62.5%;font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;}div.moduletable h3, div.moduletable_menu h3, div.moduletable_text h3, div.moduletable_ver1 h3, div.moduletable_ver2 h3,div.moduletable_ver2a h3, div.moduletable_ver2b h3, div.moduletable_ver3 h3,div.moduletable_ver3a h3, div.moduletable_ver3b h3, div.moduletable_ver4 h3,div.moduletable_ver4a h3,div.moduletable_ver4b h3,div.gk_news_section h2{font-size: 100%;font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;}h4.gk_news_intro_title, h4.gk_npro_header,div.joomla h1.title, div.joomla div.multicolumns h1.title, #jc h4, h1.pagetitle, div.joomla div.morearticles h3, .gk_is_text_block h4, div.joomla div.contact h1{font-size: 105%;font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;}#gk_mainbody_wrap{background: url('http://www.theindependentbd.com/templates/independent/images/grey_dot.png') repeat-y 662px 0;} UsernamePasswordRemember MeForgot your password?Forgot your username?Create an account NAME: * Username: *E-mail: *Password: * VERIFY_PASSWORD: *REGISTER_REQUIRED

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Saturday, 25 June 2011 Author / Source : STAFF REPORTERDHAKA, JUNE 24: Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, the acting secretary-general of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), termed the court verdict against Arafat Rahman Koko, on a money laundering case, as pre-decided, terming it as legally and constitutionally baseless. Koko was sentenced to six years of imprisonment, and fined Tk. 38.83 crore, on Thursday.Alamgir was speaking at a press briefing at the party’s Naya Paltan Central office, in the city, on Friday. He said the trial has been finished with ‘incomparable hurriedness’, within 17 working days, and the accused was not given the opportunity to defend himself.
On the other hand, the attorney general’s office seemed over-eager in pursuing the case, which was an outcome of the government’s political vengeance, Alamgir said.
Describing the case as false and fabricated, Alamgir added that Koko has been deprived of justice as the Money Laundering Prevention Act did not exist, when the charge was framed against him. The Act was enacted in 2009, but charges were framed in 2007. Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) lodged the case against Koko instead of Bangladesh Bank, which has also violated the Act, he said. The BNP leader said the ruling-party leaders, including ministers, had made advance remarks over the verdict. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, herself, allegedly gave directions to quickly discharge the case. Such remarks proved the verdict was stage managed and pre-determined, Alamgir observed.
Alamgir said Koko was not involved in money laundering, and he had no links with Singapore’s Jazz Trading and Consulting, and Farhill Consulting. There is no bank account in his name and the court also failed to prove that the signature in the joint account was that of Koko’s, he claimed.
“Framing of charges against Koko, by the Third Special Judge’s Court, is totally unlawful. Koko was not summoned, and no notice was published in newspapers. The government convicted Koko to tarnish the image of the family of late President Ziaur Rahman.” he alleged. He further said that the government had influenced the country’s judiciary, in a bid to repress and oppress the opposition leaders and activists.
BNP standing committee members MK Anwar, Moeen Khan, Aman Ullah Aman, Salahuddin Ahmed and Zainul Abdin Farroque, were also present at the press briefing.

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AmericaArt & CultureAsiaAsia/PacificAviation & TourismBankingCountryCricketEnvironmentEuropeFinanceFootballFree for allFriday FeaturesHealth & Life StyleITLeisureMovieNationwideOther BusinessOther InternationalOther SportsRegionScience & TechnologyStock MarketTennisTV showsWomen’s OwnUntitled Documentimg.floatLeft { float: left; margin: 2px; }img.floatRight { float: right; margin: 2px; }p.left{text-align:left;}Editor : Mahbubul AlamPublished by the Editor on behalf of Independent Publications Limited and printed by him at Media Printers, 149-150, Tejgaon Industrial Area, Dhaka-1215. Editorial, News & Commercial Office: BEL Tower (5th & 6th floor), 19 Dhanmondi, Road No. 1, Dhaka-1205, Bangladesh. GPO Box No. 934, Dhaka-1000. Phone (PABX): 9672091-95. Fax: 880-2-8629785, Email: indnews@bol-online.com (News), ind@bol-online.com (Commercial), editor@bol-online.com (Editorials), indsports@bol-online.com (Sports), indbusiness@bol-online.com (Business), indcountry@bol-online.com (Country), indweekend@bol-online.com (Weekend), indstetho@bol-online.com (Stethoscope).Copyright © 2010 The Independent . All rights reserved.Powered by :

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BNP dismisses verdict as hoax

Dhaka, June 23 (bdnews24.com)?Opposition BNP has rejected the verdict against party chief Khaleda Zia's son Arafat Rahman Coco as stage-managed.

In his reaction, party's acting secretary-general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday said they would fight the verdict in the court.

"This verdict is pre-determined and politically motivated. The government has given the verdict by filing a false case against Coco to disgrace the family of Ziaur Rahman to wreak vengeance," he told reporters at the Naya Paltan headquarters.

Coco was jailed for six years and fined Tk 190.41 million in a money laundering case.

Co-accused in the case Ismail Hossain Simon, son of former shipping minister late Akbar Hossain, was given the same punishment.

The case was filed against the duo for channelling 2,884,000 Singapore dollars and USD 932,000 to Singapore.

Pointing that the prime minister instructed officials to expedite the cases against Coco and his elder brother Tarique Rahman, Fakhrul said, "The ministers have recently been commenting on the issue which means the verdict was preset."

He claimed the 'so-called' case had no grounds to punish Coco.

"The lawyers are observing it," he added.

Asked about future programmes, Fakhrul said decision may come from a meeting of the party's standing committee.

Joint-secretary-general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, and leaders of BNP's associate wings were also present at that time.

bdnews24.com/sm/pks/bd/1449h

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No govt hand in Coco verdict: Huq

Dhaka, June 23 (bdnews24.com)?Anti-Corruption Commission lawyer Anisul Huq has refuted allegations that the government influenced the court to convict Arafat Rahman Coco, son of BNP chief Khaleda Zia, for laundering money.

Speaking to journalists following the conviction of Coco and his associate on Thursday, the country's top criminal lawyer said clues about the laundered money was revealed while the FBI was investigating a bribery charge against telecom giant Siemens AG.

"FBI had given the information it got from Siemens and the Anti-Corruption Commission later investigated the matter and pressed the charges."

Coco and Ismail Hossain Simon, son of former BNP shipping minister late Akbar Hossain, were both jailed for six years and fined Tk 190.41 million each in the case filed by the ACC for laundering SGD 2,884,000 and USD 932,000 to Singapore.

They had received the amount from China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd and Siemens AG for helping them bag government contracts.

China Harbour got a Tk 3.51 billion contract to set up New Mooring Container Terminal and Siemens a Tk 2.39 billion deal to supply and install equipment for Teletalk, the state-owned cell phone operator.

Huq said Siemens had admitted the allegation and gave FBI all related information about the transaction of money and the bank accounts.

"Moreover, information collected from several other foreign sources and documents were submitted to the court."

"So I can't understand how the case had link with the government," he added.

BNP earlier alleged that the verdict in the case was being given hastily with a clandestine motive. The main opposition also said the prime minister's order to fast-track money-laundering cases had a link with the 'hasty judgement'.

After the judgement, acting secretary-general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday said, "This verdict is pre-determined and politically motivated. The government has given the verdict by filing a false case against Coco to disgrace the family of Ziaur Rahman to wreak vengeance."

Coco, arrested on Sep 3, 2007 in the GATCO corruption case, has been in Bangkok for treatment on parole since July 19, 2008, while Simon is still at large.

Asked if Coco could be given mercy like many others who had been punished in cases filed after the January 11, 2007 changeover, Huq replied: "The cases filed after the one-eleven changeover were mostly about property, but it's a money laundering case. I don't think he would be excused."

About Coco's repatriation, he said the government could bring him back if there is any existing treaty between the two countries.

Coco has five more cases against him.

bdnews24.com/sn/pks/bd/1712h

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Verdict in Coco case Thursday

Dhaka, June 22 (bdnews24.com) ? A Dhaka court will pronounce on Thursday verdict in the money laundering case against BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia's youngest son Arafat Rahman Coco and co-accused Ismail Hossain Simon in their absence.

On completion of arguments, judge Mohammad Mozammel Hossain of the Dhaka Special Judge's Court-3 on Sunday fixed Thursday (June 23) for the delivery of judgement in the money laundering case against Coco and Simon, son of former shipping minister late Akbar Hossain.

The same judge will announce the verdict on Thursday, clerk of the court Ariful Islam told bdnews24.com on Wednesday.

The first charge-sheet in the case against the two was framed on Nov 30 last year.

Coco, arrested on Sep 3, 2007 in the GATCO corruption case, has been in Bangkok for treatment on parole since July 19, 2008, while Simon is still absconding.

The government on Aug 19 last year cancelled Coco's parole and asked him to return home by Aug 31 and surrender before the court.

During the charge framing, the court on Nov 30 issued an arrest warrant against the accused as they failed to return to the country and appear before it within the specified time.

Recording of testimonies in the money laundering case against Coco started on Jan 4 this year and continued up to June 15.

The court on June 6 framed fresh charges against Coco and Simon under the Money Laundering Prevention Act 2002 to avoid legal complications as they were indicted for activities which occurred before 2009. The same court on Nov 30 last year indicted Coco for money laundering under the Money Laundering Prevention Act 2009.

Assistant director of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Abu Syed filed the case against Coco and Simon with the Kafrul Police Station in the city on Mar 17, 2009, stating that the accused had laundered to Singapore SGD 28,84,000 and to the United States USD 9,32,000 which they had received from China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd and Siemens for helping them bag government contracts.

China Harbour got a Tk 3.51 billion contract to set up New Mooring Container Terminal and Siemens a Tk 2.39 billion contract to supply and install equipment for Teletalk, the state-owned cell phone operator.

On Nov 12 last year, ACC official Abu Syed submitted the charge-sheet to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court, Dhaka, showing 23 people as prosecution witnesses.

Special public prosecutor Mosharraf Hossain Kajol told bdnews24.com on Wednesday that the accused will be released from the case if they are found innocent by the court.

"If they are found guilty, they may be sentenced to a maximum punishment of seven year's jail and fined as per the Section 13 (2) of the Money Laundering Prevention Act 2002," he added.

Coco's counsel Taherul Islam told bdnews24.com that the court recorded testimonies of the 21 witnesses within a short time. "The witnesses have not been cross-examined as the accused were shown fugitives in the court document. So the verdict may be biased."

He also said that Coco has five more cases filed against him. Of those, a case filed for amassing wealth illegally and concealing information in his wealth statement submitted to the ACC, a extortion case and the GATCO corruption case have been on stayed following the Supreme Court order.

However, a tax evasion case filed against Coco by the National Board of Revenue (NBR) is under hearing at the Dhaka's Senior Special Judge's Court.

The charges against the accused in the case will be framed on June 26.

bdnews24.com/pb/skb/nir/2345h

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CG SYSTEMLet's talk, but within verdict: govt to BNP

Dhaka, June 18 (bdnews24.com) ? The government has said its action on the caretaker government issue will be within the periphery of the court verdict.

"Whatever will happen to the caretaker government system, it will be in line with the court verdict," Awami League general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam told reporters after a meeting of the party on Saturday.

"We haven't said that the door to discussion has been closed. It's still open. Whoever says whatever, the discussion will be held. We just want that it is held at the right time," Syed Ashraf said.

In reply to the BNP's allegation that the government lacks sincerity on the discussion, he said, "Our call for the discussion is not a farce."

The Supreme Court on May 10 repealed the 13th Amendment to the constitution that introduced the caretaker government, but said the next two general elections could be held under unelected rulers.

However, the special parliamentary committee on charter review has proposed to scrap the system.

On Friday, Syed Ashraf said his party was ready to settle the caretaker government issue anytime, anywhere ? in or outside parliament.

His unconditional offer came a day before a belligerent BNP announced three-day agitation protesting government move to repeal the system.

The BNP, along with its key ally Jamaat-e-Islami, staged two general strikes demanding that the system be retained.

Only last week, BNP enforced a 36-hour lockdown throughout Bangladesh, the first such harsh anti-government campaign since the Awami League returned to power two-and-a-Half years ago.

DISCUSSIONS CAN DELIVER

Pointing out that discussion was the only way to settle any issue, Syed Ashraf said, "Acceptable settlement is possible through discussion. But whatever we do, we'll have to honour the court verdict."

He urged the media to play a significant role in creating a friendly environment for the discussion.

He also urged everyone to be patient. "The opposition leader [Khaleda Zia] has agreed to discuss three of the four issues. She'll agree for the other one, too."

About Khaleda's allegation that the government was misinterpreting the Supreme Court verdict repealing the caretaker government system, Syed Ashraf said, "Discussion is also needed for this. It is possible to reach a decision if we misinterpret the court verdict."

DEAL WITH US FIRM

Ashraf slated those who are opposing the deal with the US firm ConocoPhillips to lift gas from deep sea. "Some people don't want that the natural resources of the country be used properly."

"This deal is not illegal. It is not the first of its kind. Many such deals with foreign firms were signed in the past and many will be done in the future," he said.

bdnews24.com/sum/pd/ost/nir/2045h

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