HC clears way for Khaleda’s graft trial

The High Court today cleared the way for the lower court to continue the trial proceedings of Zia Orphanage trust corruption case against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.

The court summarily rejected the petition filed by Khaleda seeking its directive upon the lower court to expunge the deposition of the investigation officer in the case.

The bench of Justice Md Moinul Islam Chowdhury and Justice JBM Hassan passed the order, saying that there is no illegality in recording the statement of the IO, Harun-or-Rashid, in the graft case.

Khaleda can cross examine the IO and therefore, she can find out whether he has given wrong statement.

The BNP chief filed the petition with the High Court on June 15 seeking its directives for expunging deposition of Harun-or-Rashid and to record his fresh statement in her presence at the court.

In her petition, Khaleda said the Special Judge Court-3 of Dhaka has recorded the statement of Harun-or-Rashid, also director of Anti-Corruption Commission, in her absence for six days.

As per relevant rule, the court has to take deposition a witness in presence of the accused but a Dhaka court did not follow the rule, she said.

The ACC had filed the two graft cases including Zia Orphanage Trust in 2008 and 2011. According to the charge sheet in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case, Khaleda, Tarique and four others embezzled Tk 2.1 crore by forming the charity that exists only on paper.