Abdus Samad to die for crimes in 1971

Staff Correspondent:  Md Abdus Samad alias Firoz Kha alias Musa has been awarded with death penalty for his crimes in 1971.

Justice Md Shahinur Islam, chairman of a three-member panel of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1, pronounced the verdict on Tuesday.

Earlier on July 8, the tribunal kept the verdict on CAV (curia advisory vault, a Lating legal term, meaning the court awaits judgement) as both the prosecution and defence concluded their arguments in the case on that day.

The first tribunal on September 9, 2018, framed four charges of crimes against humanity against Musa and the trial was initiated through placing of opening statement on October 10.

A total of 15 prosecution witnesses, including the investigation officer, testified against the accused, but the defence failed to produce any witness to vouch for Khan’s innocence.

Musa, hailing from Puthia in Rajshahi, was arrested on January 24 in 2017.

risingbd/Dhaka/Aug 27, 2019/Mahidi/Mukul