Recording of witness statements ends

A tribunal in Dhaka yesterday concluded recording the statements of witnesses in an arms case against expelled leader of Jubo Mohila League Shamima Nur Papia and her husband Mofizur Rahman Sumon.

On completion of cross-examination of Arifuzzaman, last investigation officer of the case, KM Emrul Kayesh of Special Tribunal-1 of Dhaka, set today  for recording self-defence statements of the accused.

The tribunal then will fix the date for arguments from the prosecution and the defence. After completion of arguments, the tribunal will fix a date for judgement of the case. With the IO, the tribunal recorded statements of 10 prosecution witnesses, including complainant of the case.

During yesterday's hearing, the couple was produced before the tribunal.

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

The following morning, Rab raided the house of Papia at 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, Sub-inspector Md Arifuzzaman of Rab submitted the charge sheet against the couple to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court of Dhaka.