SC orders disposal of Ershad’s radar graft suit
The Supreme Court today ordered a resume and disposal of the radar purchase graft case against Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad the on basis of the statements already recorded from witnesses.
The apex court passed the order for a lower court dismissing a petition filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission seeking review of the SC’s judgment.
A three-member bench of the Appellate Division of the SC headed by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha came up with the order after holding hearing on the review petition.
ACC lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan told The Daily Star that the trial court now will resume the trial proceedings of the case on the current stage and finish the proceedings based on the statements already recorded from the witnesses.
The time limit for finishing the trial by March 31 will not be applicable now following the today’s order, he added.
The now-defunct Bureau of Anti-Corruption filed the case against Ershad and three others in 1992. Ershad in collusion with others allegedly caused a loss of Tk 64.04 crore to the state exchequer by purchasing radars from the USA while he was in power, said the case statement.
On August 12, 1995, the trial court framed charges against Ershad, former air chiefs Sultan Mahmud and Mamtazuddin Ahmed, and United Traders Ltd director AKM Musa. Musa has been absconding since then.
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