Chief prosecutor returns to court

After more than one month of absence, chief prosecutor Ghulam Arief Tipoo yesterday appeared at the International Crimes Tribunal-1 during the war crimes proceeding against Jamaat-e-Islami leader ATM Azharul Islam.
The chief prosecutor sat on the first row of the prosecution team and observed the activities of the prosecutors, occasionally giving some instructions to his colleagues while the three-member tribunal was recording the deposition of a seizure list witness.
Senior prosecutor, Syed Haider Ali, however, claimed himself as acting chief prosecutor of the tribunal. “The ministry is yet to tell me anything,” Haider said, adding that until the ministry asked him to step down as "acting chief prosecutor", he would continue with his position.
Tipoo took one month's medical leave from April 13 and went abroad for treatment. The law ministry appointed Haider as acting chief prosecutor for the period of his absence.
Tipoo returned to his workplace on April 30, and since then there has been a chief prosecutor and an acting chief prosecutor, apparently causing fractionalisation in the about 21 members' prosecution.
Yesterday, after completion of the cross-examination of the 14th prosecution witness, police constable Sazul Mahmud, 33, the tribunal-1 Chairman Justice M Enayetur Rahim enquired Tipoo, in his 80s, about his health condition. Tipoo said he was feeling better. The tribunal then wished him good health.
The defence counsel cross-examined the witness, and the proceeding was adjourned till May 28.
TRIBUNAL-2
The International Crimes Tribunal-2 yesterday completed recording the cross-examination of Abdul Matin alias Jamal, a freedom fighter from Nasirnagar in Brahmanbaria and the 16th prosecutor in the case against Syed Mohammad Qaisar, a state minister in Ershad's regime.
Qaisar's lawyer SM Shahjahan completed his cross-examination, and the three-member tribunal adjourned the proceeding until today.
The tribunal also adjourned the case against Jamaat leader Abdus Subhan until May 29 following a prayer from both the prosecution and the defence.