After hearing both sides, the three-member Appellate Bench headed by Justice Mohammed Fazlul Karim upheld the lower court verdict, reducing the punishment of two lifers to seven years.

Fauzia Rahman Chapa, mother of a son and wife of Shahidul Alam, one of the owners of REPHCO Pharmaceutical Laboratory, was murdered in her house at Fakirbari Road in Barisal City, when the husband was on a visit abroad.

The court upheld the life imprisonment of Shahidul's brother Zahurul Islam Kamal and reduced the punishment of Nasiruddin Jamal, another brother of Shahidul, and their brother-in-law (dulabhai) Zillul Bari to seven years.

The court in its judgment directed the convicts, who were set free nine years ago, to surrender before the trial court immediately.

On an appeal against the district court verdict, the High Court acquitted them on benefit of doubts in April 1996.

Additional Attorney General Abdur Rezaque Khan stood for the state, while Khondker Mahbubuddin Ahmed, Abdul Malek and Khondker Mahbub Hossain appeared for the accused.