Don't divulge trial info to media
The International Crimes Tribunal yesterday rejected a petition filed by Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Motiur Rahman Nizami seeking suspension of statements made by him to investigators during interrogation.
It also instructed the counsels and investigators involved in the trial process to refrain from revealing facts discovered during the ongoing process to the media.
Nizami was interrogated at a Dhanmondi safe home on May 5 on charge of involvement with crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War.
The tribunal also rejected a second petition filed by Nizami bringing contempt of court charge against investigator M Sanaul Haque. The petition said Sanaul has illegally disclosed statements and information provided by Nizami to him during the questioning to the media.
The tribunal rejected both two petitions on the ground that the statements and information given by the accused petitioner Nizami during interrogation are not admissible as evidence against him during the trial. Nizami's counsel M Tazul Islam and prosecutor Syed Haider Ali earlier put forth their arguments regarding the matter.
The three-member tribunal headed by Justice Nizamul Huq however asked Nizami's counsels, investigators and prosecutors involved in the process to be careful about making any statements to the media.
The tribunal observed that the counsels for both parties have made statements to the television regarding the interrogation which is unwarranted.
It pointed out that the investigators can only talk to the media regarding the proceedings taking place but not about any information discovered during the process.
Later chief prosecutor Ghulam Arief Tipoo told reporters that the counsels and investigators involved have to be careful about what they divulge to the media so that the proceedings of the tribunal is not affected in any way.
The petitions were filed with the tribunal on May 8 and 15.
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