Dhaka, Nov 18 – BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia has filed an appeal with the High Court Division of the Supreme Court challenging the lower court verdict that sentenced her seven years imprisonment in Zia Charitable Trust graft case. In the petition, she also sought acquittal from the sentence awarded to her showing 20 logics and bail in the case until the appeal is disposed of.
Barrister Nawshad Jamir, a lawyer for Khaleda Zia, said the petition was filed with the concerned branch of the apex court on Sunday.
Earlier on October 29, Judge Dr Md Akhtaruzzaman of Dhaka Special Judge Court–5 sentenced BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and 3 others to 7 years imprisonment each, in Zia Charitable Trust graft case.
Moreover, all the four convicts have been fined Tk10 lakh each. They have to serve more 6 months in prison each, in case of defying the fine.
Three other convicts are—Khaleda Zia’s former political affairs secretary Harris Chowdhury, his former aide and former BIWTA acting director Ziaul Islam Munna, and former Dhaka city corporation mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka’s personal secretary Monirul Islam Khan.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the graft case against Khaleda Zia and three others with Tejgaon Police Station on August 8, 2010, for embezzling Tk3.15 crore from Zia Charitable Trust.
On February 8, a Dhaka court sentenced Khaleda Zia to five years imprisonment in Zia Orphanage Trust case.
She was sent to Dhaka central jail following the verdict. Since then, she has been in prison. – Special Correspondent
