SC asks to halt execution of death row convict as full text of verdict not released yet
The Supreme Court today ordered the inspector general of prisons and jail authorities to suspend the execution of death penalty of Shukur Ali -- convicted in a child abduction, rape and murder case in Kushtia -- as the full text of verdict was not released and he could not seek review.
The apex court asked Attorney General AM Amin Uddin to communicate its verbal order to the IG prisons and Kashimpur jail authorities.
The SC's Appellate Division also asked Shukur Ali's lawyer Helal Uddin Mollah to submit an application before its chamber judge's court for necessary directives on this issue.
A five-member full bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain passed the order after lawyer Helal Uddin told the court that the jail authorities have recently taken initiative to execute Shukur Ali following an "advance order" of the court.
Shukur Ali could not seek review of the SC verdict as its full text was not released yet, he said.
The Appellate Division said it issued the advance order so that other three convicts, whose death sentences were commuted to life imprisonment in the same case, are shifted to normal cell of the jail from the condemned cell.
The Appellate Division on August 18 this year affirmed the death penalty of Shukur Ali, and commuted death sentences of three others to life imprisonment in a case filed for abduction, rape and murder of 13-year-old Sabina in Kushtia in 2004.
The top court also asked the jail authorities to shift the three convicts, whose death sentences were commuted, to normal cell. The three convicts are: Nuruddin Sentu, Azanur Rahman and Mamun Hossain.
Convict Shukur Ali has right to seek review of the apex court verdict and presidential mercy. If his mercy appeals are rejected, the jail authorities can executive his death sentence.
Sabina, daughter of Abdul Malek Jhonu from Lalnagar village under Kushtia's Daulatpur Upazila, went to a neighbour's house to watch television on the night on March 25, 2004.
The convicts abducted her while she was returning home. They took her to a tobacco field, raped and killed her. The following day, her father Abdul Malek filed a case with the Daulatpur Police Station in connection with the incident.
The Nari O Shishu Nirjaton Daman Tribunal of Kushtia on February 4, 2009 convicted and sentenced five accused -- Shukur, Sentu, Azanur, Mamun and Kamrul to death in the case.
Then the convicts filed separate appeals with the HC, challenging the trial court verdict on them.
The HC in 2014 confirmed their capital punishment. Later on, the convicts filed appeals with the Appellate Division challenging the HC verdict.
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