Graft case: Khaleda for cross-examining prosecution witnesses
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia today filed a revision petition with the High Court seeking stay on the trial proceedings against her in Zia Charitable Trust corruption case.
In the petition, Khaleda prayed to the HC to order the trial court to allow her lawyers to cross-examine five prosecution witnesses of the case.
Citing from the petition, Advocate Zakir Hossain Bhuiyan, a lawyer for Khaleda, told The Daily Star that the defence lawyers had not cross-examined five prosecution witnesses during the trial of the Zia Charitable Trust graft case.
The five prosecution witnesses need to be cross-examined for fair trial of the case, he said, adding that a Dhaka court on June 8 rejected a petition seeking permission for cross-examining the five prosecution witnesses.
The revision petition has been filed with the HC challenging the Dhaka court’s June 8 rejection order, he said.
Advocate Zakir also said the HC might hold hearing on the petition after reopening following its ongoing annual vacation. The HC will reopen on July 3.
On August 8, 2011, the Anti-Corruption Commission filed the Zia Charitable Trust graft case with Tejgaon Police Station accusing four people, including Khaleda, of raising funds for the trust from unknown sources abusing power.
According to the charge sheet of the case, Khaleda and three others abused power to collect Tk 6.19 crore for Zia Charitable Trust during the BNP-led government's tenure between 1991 and 1996.
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