SC gives defence, state 4-week for statements

The Supreme Court yesterday gave the defence and state counsels four more weeks' time to submit separate concise statements on convicted war criminal Mir Quasem Ali's appeal against his death sentence.

Meanwhile, the prosecution started placing closing arguments at the International Crimes Tribunal in the case against Forkan Mallik, an alleged Razakar of Patuakhali's Mirzaganj upazila facing five charges including murder and rape.

QUASEM'S APPEAL

The SC also said the appeal would be considered ready for hearing if the statements, containing points on which the counsels would place arguments, were not submitted within the deadline.

On April 22, the SC had directed the defence and state to submit the statements by May 20 and 27 respectively.

On May 26, the Jamaat-e-Islami leader submitted a petition through his lawyer Joynal Abedin seeking the time and stating of his senior counsel's personal difficulties.

A four-member Appellate Division bench headed by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha passed the order after hearing Quasem's petition.

International Crimes Tribunal-2 sentenced Quasem to death on November 2 after finding him guilty in 10 of 14 war crimes charges. On November 30, Quasem submitted the appeal seeking acquittal.

FORKAN'S CASE

Prosecutor Mukhlesur Rahman Badal placed arguments on the first charge citing testimonies of four prosecution witnesses. The charge is over the killing of three people in the upazila on August 12, 1971.

Terming the witnesses as “natural and eyewitnesses”, Badal said they saw the killing, either whole or part, and gave elaborate descriptions.

“Their testimonies should be taken into cognisance,” said Badal. He, however, could not give specific answers to some of the judges' queries.

The three-member tribunal led by Justice Obaidul Hassan with members Justice Md Mozibur Rahman Miah and Justice Md Shahinur Islam adjourned proceedings until Sunday, when the prosecution will resume their submissions.