ACC challenges ‘inadequate’ penalty of Khaleda in Zia OrphanageTrust corruption case

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) today filed an appeal with the High Court challenging what it said inadequate sentence handed by the lower court to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case.

The trial court sentenced Khaleda Zia to five years imprisonment in the case on February 8.

ACC today submitted the petition to the officer concerned of the High Court saying that the five other accused of the same case have been convicted and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment in the same case

But the lower court sentenced Khaleda Zia, who is the principle accused of the case, to five years imprisonment which is inadequate, ACC’s lawyer advocate Khurshid Alam Khan told The Daily Star.

The ACC in the appeal prayed the High Court to enhance the sentence of Khaleda in Zia OrphanageTrust corruption case, he added.

He said he will take steps for holding hearing on the petition before the HC on Wednesday.

On February 8, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia was handed a five-year rigorous imprisonment in Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case.

Her eldest son and BNP’s Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman and four others were also given 10 years imprisonment in the case and a fine of Tk 2.10 crore each in the politically significant case ahead of the parliamentary election.