Koko exempted from court appearance

A special court yesterday exempted detained Arafat Rahman Koko, BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia's younger son, from appearing in person during the trial proceedings of the Gatco corruption case.
The same court deferred the hearing on the Tk 21 crore bribery case against Koko's elder brother Tarique Rahman, former state minister for home Lutfozzaman Babar and six others to July 2.
Meanwhile Tarique has also appealed for exemption from appearing in person in the trial of Tk 21 crore bribery case.
TARIQUE AND KOKO
Judge Shahed Noor Uddin of Special Court-3, set on the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban premises, passed the exemption order of Koko and set June 29 for hearing on the exemption petition of Tarique.
Koko had submitted a petition to the court on Tuesday seeking exemption from appearing in person at trial proceedings in Gatco corruption case on health grounds.
Tarique's counsels filed his petition before the court, in the morning session of the trial, under Section 540 A (1) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) on health grounds.
The judge had initially set 2:00 pm yesterday for its order on Tarique's petition.
In the second session of the day, defence lawyer advocate Masud Ahmed Talukder said the petition they filed earlier was not detailed and so they have submitted a modified petition with more details.
Prosecution advocate Syed Shamim Ahsan Habib told the court that there are changes in the modified petition and they had not been able to examine the context in detail.
He appealed to the court to set June 30 for the next date of hearing on the exemption, so that they could study the changes.
The judge, after the brief hearing, set June 29 for the final ruling.
The court has, meanwhile, again deferred the hearing on the Tk 21 crore bribery case against Tarique and others.
Tarique did not appear before the court in the trial of the bribery case due to illness. The bribery case was filed in connection with the murder of Bashundhara Group Director Humayun Kabir Sabbir.
The other two detained accused, Babar and Abu Sufian, were present in the court.
BABAR'S PETITION
The counsel of former state minister for home filed a petition seeking permission to send Babar abroad for treatment, after he fell sick during the morning session of the trial.
Babar's counsel Abdullah Al Mamun said that the medical board treating Babar had recommended that his condition -- Babar is suffering from multiple problems including severe back and neck pains -- requires institutional treatment.
Babar is now undergoing treatment at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU).
The prosecution argued that the matter of availing treatment abroad is beyond the court's jurisdiction.
After hearing both sides, the court asked authorities to arrange proper treatment for Babar as per the jail code.