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Janata Tower case: Hearing of charges ends

Ershad helped Raushan get land from allottees as bribe: AG
The hearing of charges Ershad and 19 others for al leged illegal transfer of a commercial plot in the city and possession of wealth din proportionate to his Income as a public servant concluded yes terday. reports BSS
Attorney General Amlnul Haq defended the charge* brought against the former President and others who in eluded Raushan Ershad and M A Sattar. a former minister A large number of counsels de fending the accused persons denied the charges brought by the prosecution and prayed that their clients be dis charged of the accusations
With Wednesday the hear Ing of charges continued for three days.
After hearing both sides. Special Judge Md Ismail Mlah fixed May 4 for order whether charges could be framed against the accused persons or not.
Like Tuesday. Raushan Ershad failed to appear in the court yesterday and her attor ney Sarfuddin Ahmed Mukul informed the court that her client was still unwell. Former minister M A Sattar was also not present and a medical certificate stating his sickness was produced.
The Attorney General who brought the charges against Ershad and others on the first day of the heating (April 22). while refuting the contentions of the defence layers, said the former President not only abused his official position to allot 2.1 acres at Kawran Bazar to a group of people at a price much less than market price.
but also colluded so that hi* wife gets 12 katha of land a* "bribe" from the allottee*. Through hl* action In land allotment. Ershad had caused Rajuk to sustain a loss of Taka 5 48 crore, the prosecution charged
Besides. Ershad paid Taka 6.5 crore, an amount which is greatly disproportionate to his income, to u company for the construction of a multi- storied building on the said 12 katha plot, the Attorney General said The building belongs to Janata Publishing Company Limited whose chairman is Begum Rauslran Ershad.
About Raushan Ersliad. the Attorney General charged that by hiding her actual name and using influence, she got the plot illegally Documents show that the former President's wife used her name as Raushan
The Attorney Genera) said former chairman of Rajuk M M Rahmatullah being a responsible government official, had abetted the principal accused In illegal work and thereby caused a big financial loss to the state
The other accused persons were charged with getting allotment on submission of false statements. They also committed punishable offence by bribing Raushan Ershad with 12 katha land.
Khandakar Mahbub Hossain, defending the former President. stated that as head of the government. Ershad had the jurisdiction to recommend any prayer of a citizen or citizens. Recommendation itself cannot be definitely called ill motive, he said.
Putting arguments in support of hi* contention. Hussain said the allotted plots were sold at price* higher than the highest auction bld arranged by Rajuk.
About the accusation of dis proportionate wealth of hi* client. Khandakar Mahbub Hussain said though Invcstlgu Uon* In this case were carried more than once, this particularly case was nol mentioned It was also not contained tn the FIR or charge sheet, he said adding at this stage such accusation Is not acceptable as per law Moreover, the provision enabling the accused to Sve explanation of wealth aka 6 5 crore) was also not followed.
Raushan Ershad s lawyer Mukul said his client commit ted no crime by lawfully purchasing a property. He forther said Begum Raushan Ershad turchased land al a price Igher than the adjacent plot.
About the accusation of getting graft, the lawyer said there is no documentary evidence in support of that.
M A Malek, defending former Rajuk chairman, said his client Rahmatullah only carried the order of head of the state as a government servant. He said whatever he did. he did officially.
About Rahmatullah's collusion in allotment of plot. Malek said no prosecution witness had testified before the Investigating officer to that effect.
On the basis of their submissions. all defence lawyers proved for discharging of their < hcnls from the case.