Arms Case against Papia: Court sets Oct 12 for verdict

A Dhaka tribunal yesterday set October 12 for delivering the judgment in an arms case against expelled Jubo Mohila League leader Shamima Nur Papia and her husband Mofizur Rahman Sumon on completion of the trial within nine working days.

Judge KM Emrul Kayesh of Special Tribunal-1 of Dhaka fixed the date after the defence lawyers completed their arguments.

During yesterday's hearing, the defence told the court that the prosecution has failed to prove the charges brought against their clients. They also sought acquittal of their clients from the case.

Earlier, the prosecution on September 24 completed arguments and sought the highest punishment -- life term imprisonment -- for the couple.

The tribunal recorded statements of 12 prosecution witnesses, including complainant of the case. The same tribunal framed charges against the couple in the case on August 23.

A team of Rab arrested Papia and her husband -- a former Chhatra League leader -- and their two accomplices from Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on February 22 while they were trying to leave the country.

The following morning, Rab raided Papia's house on Indira Road in Farmgate and recovered a foreign pistol, two magazines, 20 bullets, five bottles of foreign liquor, Tk 58,41,000 in cash, credit and debit cards of different banks.

On February 24, an arms case was filed against the couple with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station. On June 29, Rab Sub-inspector Arifuzzaman submitted the charge sheet against them to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court of Dhaka.