An Important aide of deposed President H M Erahad was yesterday named as ■ prosecution witness in the Janata Tower case In which the retired General ia the principal accused, reports USS

Brig (rtd) Sharif Aziz, once the Private Secretary to the Supreme Commander (when Erahad had held that post), is one of the five new witnesses who were named yesterday at the Special Judge's Court try Ing Ershad. his wife and 18 others in the Janata Tower

The others named to be witnesses, are Advocate Abdul Wahab. Motiur Rahman, an ASP of the Bureau of Anti Corruption and Investigating officer in Ershad s money case. Nawazesh Ahmed, tax adviser to Ntrman International Limited and Major Nurul Islam. former Deputy Assistant Military Secretary to the President.

Soon after the court resumed after a week. Attorney General Aminul Haq prayed to the sitting Judge to issue summons against the five mentioned above to make their depositions In the Interest of the case. Special Judge and Additional Session Judge Md Ansaruddin Sikder is presiding over the court.

Ershad is charged with misuse of his official position and resorting to corrupt practices in the construction of Janata Tower at Kawran Bazar area of the city. Construction firm Nlrman built the tower under an agreement signed with Janata Publishers Limited whose chairman is Begum Raushan Ershad.

The prosecution already named 36 witnesses and the depositions and cross examinations of 28 PWs were completed till yesterday

After the prayer for sum

mon of the new witnesses, the prosecution produced Moftzuddin Ahmed, I’W 28 tn this case. Ahmed. Nlrman Finance Manager now stationed in Dubai, was brought in to make the deposition

During the deposition. Ahmed who is the fourth wit ness from Ntrman in this case, stated that his firm had received Taka ten crore from the former president and his wife for the construction of the multi-storied Janata Tower. Out of that amount. Taka 6.5 crore was in cash and the rest was tn cheques. Ahmed said.

Most of his deposition were in fact corroboration of what had been stated earlier by Abdul Hye. Chief Accountant of Ntrman. He testified the certified copy of the income tax return and audit report of Nlrman which mentioned that the firm received Taka ten crore for the construction of the lower.

During cross examination by Khandkar Mahbub Hossain, the defence counsel for Ershad, the witness affirmed that he was interrogated by members of the law enforcing agencies in 1991 about this case. He, however, rejected a suggestion that he had deposed with a political motive to serve the Interest of his employer.

When cross examined by Sharfuddin Ahmed Mukul, the defence counsel of Begum Raushan Ershad, Mofizuddln Ahmed firmly stated that Ntrman did receive Taka ten crore for the construction of the tower. He said It is not true that fictitious documents were prepared by Ntrman In the interest of the prosecution.

Lawyers of other accused persons declined to cross examine the witness when asked by Judge Sikder.

The hearing resumes today.