Mustafiz gets permanent bail
A special court yesterday granted permanent bail to ailing former army chief Gen (retd) Mustafizur Rahman in the MiG-29 warplane purchase case.
Judge Golam Mortuza Majumder of the Special Judge's Court, Dhaka Division set up on the premises of Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban passed the order following a bail prayer by the defence.
The court also deferred the hearing of charge framing in the case till June 19.
Other accused in the case are former premier and Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina, former air force chief Jamaluddin Ahmed, former defence secretary Syed Yusuf Hossain, Air Commodore (retd) Mirza Akhter Maruf, former joint secretary Mohammad Hossain Serniabat and Unique Group Managing Director Nur Ali.
Hasina was not produced before the court yesterday -- second time since she was allowed an exemption from appearing before the court in person due to her health conditions.
Hasina's counsel advocate Sahara Khatun represented her while the other accused in the case were produced before the court.
Mustafiz's counsel Syed Rezaur Rahman filed the permanent bail petition to the court, saying that his client is incapable of attending court proceedings as he is seriously ill and currently undergoing treatment at Combined Military Hospital.
The counsel also sought permission for sending Mustafiz abroad for treatment.
Upon hearing arguments from both sides, the court granted permanent bail to Mustafiz. However, the court did not give any order regarding Mustafiz's treatment overseas.
ABM Sharfuddin Khan Mukul represented the prosecution in the hearing.
On December 11, 2001, the now defunct Bureau of Anti-Corruption filed the case against Hasina and four others with Tejgaon Police Station, accusing them of causing a loss of Tk 700 crore to the state exchequer by purchasing eight MiG-29 fighter jets while Hasina was in power as the prime minister.
The names of Brig Gen (retd) Iftekhar-Ul-Bashar and former deputy secretary Hasan Mahmood Delwar were dropped from the case due to insufficient evidence while former army chief Mustafizur Rahman, Air Commodore (retd) Mirza Akhter Maruf, former joint secretary Hossain Serniabat and businessman Nur Ali were implicated in the case after investigators found their involvement in the scam.
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