SC stays Mufti Shahidul's acquittal

The Supreme Court yesterday stayed for six weeks a High Court verdict acquitting former Islami Oikya Jote (IOJ) lawmaker Mufti Shahidul Islam in a corruption case.
Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division Justice ABM Khairul Haque passed the order following a petition filed by the government on August 24 seeking stay on the HC judgement.
The court also asked the government to file a leave-to-appeal petition with the apex court against the HC verdict within the six weeks' period.
Deputy Attorney General Nazrul Islam Talukder said Mufti Shahidul will have to surrender before the trial court immediately in connection with the corruption case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) after the SC stay order.
If Shahidul does not appear before the trial court, the police can arrest him in this case, he added.
A special court, set up at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban premises, convicted Shahidul on March 19, 2008 and sentenced him to 10 years' imprisonment for amassing wealth worth over Tk 18 lakh illegally.
In response to an appeal filed by the IOJ leader against the special court's verdict, the HC on August 16 this year scrapped his jail sentence and acquitted him of the corruption charges.
Earlier in 2008, Shahidul secured bail from the HC in this case.