Convict Salimul files petition with HC challenging verdict

Former BNP lawmaker Kazi Salimul Haque, one of the convicts in Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case, has filed an appeal with the High Court challenging the trial court verdict that sentenced him to 10 years’ imprisonment.

Salimul, who is now in jail, submitted the appeal to the office concerned through his lawyer on Monday praying to the HC to acquit him of the corruption charges, stay his fine and scrap the trial court verdict on him.    

Claiming innocence, Salimul in the appeal also prayed that the HC asks for the case records from the trial court, his lawyer Palash Chandra Roy told The Daily Star.

He said he would move the appeal before the HC today for its acceptance.

If the appeal is accepted, Salimul will file a petition with this court seeking bail in this case, Palash said.

Another convict BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, who landed in jail on February 8, filed an appeal with the HC on February 20 challenging the verdict of Special Judge's Court-5 of Dhaka that sentenced her to five years' imprisonment.

On February 22, the BNP chief filed a separate petition with the HC seeking bail in the same case which was accepted and subsequently the HC stayed the lower court order that fined her and asked it to forward the case records to it within 15 days.

The HC on February 25 said it will deliver an order on her bail prayer after getting the case records.

The lower court is yet to send the case records to the HC, court sources said.

The Anti-Corruption Commission filed the case with Ramna Police Station in July 2008, accusing the six of misappropriating over Tk 2.1 crore that came from a foreign bank as grants for orphans.

According to court order, all the six convicts, including Khaleda, her elder son Tarique Rahman, now the acting chairman of BNP, and Salimul, have to pay the total fine of Tk 2.10 crore in equal amounts.