The Appellate Division has finished writing the full verdict on the death sentence for Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General Abdul Quader Molla.
Justice Md Abdul Wahhab Miah, who had differed with the other judges on the death penalty, submitted his verdict on Sunday, said court officials.
Speaking to Journalists, prosecution coordinator in the war crimes tribunal, Additional Attorney General MK Rahman also said: “Writing of the full verdict has finished.”It was done 68 days after the Supreme Court dismissed Molla’s plea that he be cleared of all war crimes charges.
Instead, it enhanced his life sentence to the maximum punishment possible on a prosecution appeal.
The Chief Justice had led the bench of five judges which delivered the verdict on Sept 17, but Justice AHM Shamsuddin Choudhury wrote the main verdict.
Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha had agreed with the death sentence but also gave separate opinion.
Chief Justice Md Muzammel Hossain and Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain also agreed with the final verdict.
According to the procedure, if more than one judge writes the verdict, the Chief Justice will gather them firsthand. Then the final copy of the verdict will be published with signatures of all the judges.
The bench that heard the appeal had comprised of justices Sinha, Wahhab Miah, Mahmud Hossain, Siddiqur Rahman Mia and Choudhury. But after Justice Rahman’s retirement in June, the bench had been working with five members.
The top appeals court had given the Jamaat leader maximum penalty with a 4-1 majority after reviewing two appeals regarding a verdict handed down by the International Crimes Tribunal-2.
Six charges were levelled against Molla but the ICT-2 acquitted him in one, and sentenced him to life for the rest.
Punishment of the tribunal was maintained on four charges while the fifth one was revised to life term by 4-1 majority.
The verdict said Molla, whose ‘lighter’ life sentence had triggered ‘Bangla Spring’ from Shahbagh, will be hanged until death as he was found guilty of previously unproven murders and rape during the 1971 war. – bdnews24.com
