Quizzing for one more day permitted
The International Crimes Tribunal-1 yesterday allowed the investigation officer of war crimes case against Jamaat leader Mir Quashem Ali to interrogate him one more day at a “safe house” in Dhanmondi.
Reminding the investigation officer of his failure to inform the defence 48 hours prior to quizzing the accused, tribunal chairman Justice Md Nizamul Huq cautioned him not to repeat the mistake.
“We will give an order and you will not hear or comply with it and try to do otherwise by any means. Why [you do] this type of mistakes?” said Nizamul Huq while giving an order on a petition filed by the prosecution seeking two more days to quiz Quashem.
Prosecutor Sultan Mahmud Simon in his submission on the petition told the tribunal the investigation officer could not complete quizzing Quashem because of time constraint. That is why the investigation officer needs two more days, he argued.
Allowing one day for interrogation, the tribunal directed the investigation agency through the prosecution to inform defence counsel Tanvir Ahmed Al-Amin 48 hours before interrogation.
The tribunal however did not fix any date for the interrogation.
War crimes investigators quizzed Quashem on September 15. Investigation officer Nurul Islam that day said they got “important information” about Quashem's alleged involvement in crimes against humanity and appointing lobbyists abroad for a campaign against his trial.
The tribunal yesterday heard submission of both the defence and the prosecution on several petitions.
Prosecutor Zead Al Malum made a petition to the tribunal to accept statement of a witness to the investigation officer as testimony as Mohsin Ali Khan, the witness, is ill and undergoing treatment in the USA.
The tribunal allowed the petition.
The tribunal was occupied in its morning session hearing submission on petitions. As a result, it adjourned proceedings of the cases against war crimes accused Delawar Hossain Sayedee and Salauddin Quader Chowdhury until today.
GHULAM AZAM CASE
Motiur Rahman, investigation officer of a war crimes case against former Jamaat chief Ghulam Azam, yesterday gave deposition to the tribunal.
The proceeding of the case was adjourned until today.
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