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Corruption Case Against Ershad

Judgement on Apr 30

Court Correspondent
Judgment of a 16-year-old corruption case filed against former president and Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad, detained former chairman of Bangladesh Shilpa Bank AKM Mosharraf Hossain and four others will be delivered on April 30.
The Anti - corruption Commission (ACC) yesterday pressed charges against former additional inspector general (A1G) of police Shahidullah Khan and his wife Masuda Khan in a case filed in connection with amassing wealth illegally and giving false information to the commission.
CASE AGAINST ERSHAD
Ershad and AKM Mosharraf Hossain, former chairman of Bangladesh Shilpa Bank, allegedly abusing power and through corruption, directed the authorities concerned to sanction Tk 35 lakh loan in favour of M/s Three Star Poultry Farm Ltd on September 4,1979.
Golam Mortuza, an official of defunct Bureau of Anti-corruption, filed the graft case with Motijheel Police Station against Ershad, Mosharraf, managing director of the farm Jahangir Kabir, directors of the farm Firoz Kabir and Borhan Uddin and Jahangir's wife Nurunnahar Shelly on April 22,1991. The investigation officer pressed charges against Ershad and five others on November6,1991.
Of the accused, Jahangir and his wife Shelly are still at large while others are nowon bail.
Trial of the case began on May 30 last year. The proceeding of the case was stayed for a long time due to a High Court order even though charges were framed on July 7,1992.
After completion of closing arguments from the prosecution and the defence yesterday, Judge Golam Mortuza Majumder of Special Court for Dhaka Division set the date for verdict delivery.
During the argument, the prosecution told the court that they were able to prove the charges brought against Ershad and others and prayed for highest punishment to the accused.
The defence argued that the prosecution failed to prove the charges against their clients and they prayed for acquittal of the accused of the charges.
During the closing arguments, Ershad, Mosharraf and two others were present at the court.
Earlier, the court recorded statements of eight prosecution wit-nesses including complainant and investigation officer (IO) of the case.
Three other corruption cases filed against Ershad have been pending with the same court for a longtime.
According to the statement of the first filed withTejgaon Police Station in 1992, Ershad, while in power, allegedly directed the authorities concerned to purchase ENG (electronic news-gathering) equipment worth aboutTk 2.93 crore for his and his wife's use even though all broad -casting facilities were available at his secretariat.
Accordingjto the second case filed with the same police station, it was alleged that Ershad, defying the authorities' decision, directed people concerned to accept donations from France instead of Finland to set up Microwave Telephone Lines in 49 upazilas. The government had to pay Tk 28 crore to France in interest, as the plan was not implemented finally, sources said.
In the case filed with the Cantonment Police Station on May 4, 1992, it was alleged that Ershad directed the authorities concerned to purchase two high-power radars (Radio Detection and Ranging) for Bangladesh Air Forces violating the recommendation of the radar evaluation team. It allegedly caused a loss of Tk 64 crore to the government.
Ershad was earlier acquitted in four other corruption cases as his involvement was not proved.
CASE AGAINST SHAHID
ACC Assistant Director SyedTahsinul Haq, also the IO, submitted the charge sheet of the case filed against former AIG Shahidullah Khan and his wife Masuda Khan before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court of Dhaka showing 40 people as prosecution witnesses.
The IO prayed for issuance of arrest warrants against the couple and the order to attach their properties as they have been absconding since the case was filed in connection with amassing wealth illegally and giving false information to the commission.
On October 14 last year, ACC Assistant Director TowfiquI Islam filed the case with Tejgaon Police Station in connection with the couple's amassing Tk 57,66,450 and concealing information about Tk 67,21,500 in their wealth statements.
Earlier, the couple was convicted of tax evasion and each sentenced to eight years' imprisonment.