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Ershad’s trial: Defence cross-examines PW-2
G K S M Shahjahan Amin, a retired joint secretary, yesterday told the Special Judge’s Court trying deposed president H M Ershad in the Japanese relief boat purchase case that the Relief Ministry did not take the initiative to procure the boats, reports BSS.
The ERD (Economic Relations Division) might have initiated it. Amin, prosecution witness (PW-2) in the Special Case No 19 Of 1993 said during cross-examination.
Answering a defence query. Amin said secretaries of the Ministry of Relief and the ERD had .had correspondence in writing on 'the possibility of procuring relief boats in the light of the devastating floods in the country in 1988. He, however, did not say anything whether the Defence Ministry was involved in any manner in the procurement of the boats.
Amin served as a Joint secretary in the Ministry of Relief when the boats were procured from Japan under a-debt relief grant.
Deposed president- Ershad and a Japanese national (being tried in absentia) are the accused in this case.
The prosecution alleged that the former president had '^bused his official position in the purchased deal causing the state to suffer a loss of about Taka 33 crore.
The PW-2 stated that a proposal to procure emergency shallow-draft boats and setting up of disaster preparedness centre was put forward by the Marubeni Corporation, the firm which eventually supplied the boats.
When asked by Yusuf Hossain Humayun. Ershad’s defence counsel. PW-2 admitted the receipt of recommendation from the President's Secretariat on procurement of the boats. He also mentipned that the recommendations were actually made by Ershad
was the convenor of the five-member committee formed to finalise the specifications of the boats to be, purchased.
During testimony given last month. Amin said the committee had received three specifications; including the one by Marubeni, 'which he said was actually given to the Relief Secretary by Ershad.
During the cross-examination. Amin said although Kinshu Mataichi was the low* est bidder, the boat contract was given to Marubeni Corporation- He confirmed the defence's assertion that an enquiry carried out by (lie Bangladesh embassy in Tokyo
had disproved the claim of Mataichi that Toyo Engineering. a supplier Mataichi had named to build the boats, was in. fact a shipbuilder. He. however, stated that Mataichi. though not possessing any shipyard facilities, had arrangements with some shipyards.
The cross-examinations remained incomplete when the hearing was adjourned till today.
Former minister Mahbtibur Rahman, who was present in the court as an attorney of the accused was. however, seen talking with Ershad who was sitting In the dock during almost the entire period of cross-examination.