HC acquits Ershad of gift graft charges

Staff Correspondent: The High Court (HC) on Tuesday acquitted Jatiya Party chairman and former President Hussain Muhammad Ershad in a 25-year old corruption case that involved misappropriation of over Tk 1.91 crore.

Ershad was accused of financial irregularities involving gifts worth over Tk 1.91 crore in a case that started in 1991.

The HC bench of Justice Md Ruhul Quddus and Justice Bhishmadev Chakrabortty passed the order following a petition filed by Ershad against a lower court verdict that had sentenced him to three years’ imprisonment in the case.

Besides, the High Court rejected the two petitions filed by the government for extending the jail term of Ershad.

Earlier on April 12, the High Court fixed May 9 for delivering verdict on three petitions -- one filed by HM Ershad and two others by the government.

The then Bureau of Anti-Corruption (BAC) filed the case against former military ruler Ershad with Cantonment Police Station on January 8, 1991 on charge of misappropriating Tk 1.91 crore by misusing powers at different times when he was the president of the state from December 11, 1983 to December 6, 1990.

A court in Dhaka on February 3, 1992 convicted him for graft and sentenced him to three years’ imprisonment.

The court had also directed the authorities concerned to confiscate the money and a Toyota Land-Cruiser jeep from Ershad.

Ershad had filed an appeal with the HC the same year challenging the lower court verdict.

Following the appeal, the HC stayed the lower court verdict.

The ACC on February 26 in 2012 became part of the case with the HC’s permission as the BAC stands defunct now.

risingbd/DHAKA/May 9, 2017/Mehedi/Amirul