The High Court (HC) today issued a rule asking both state and the defence to explain in four weeks as to why the sentence of five-year imprisonment handed down to Khaleda Zia in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case shall not be increased.
A High Court division bench comprising Justice M. Enayetur Rahim and Justice Shahidul Karim issued the rule after holding hearing on a revision appeal filed by Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), BSS reported.The High Court will hold hearing on the rule and the appeal filed by the BNP chairperson challenging the lower court verdict that convicted her in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case simultaneously.The ACC filed the appeal with the concerned department of the High Court on March 25. "We have filed an appeal as the ACC thinks the punishment given to Khaleda Zia was inadequate. Being aggrieved by the lower court verdict, the ACC has filed the appeal," advocate Khan said on that day."The main offender in the case has been given five-year imprisonment, while her associates were given 10-year imprisonment each. ACC thinks the punishment given to the main offender is inadequate," he added.On February 8 last, the Dhaka Special Judge Court-5 sentenced Khaleda Zia to five-year imprisonment in the graft case. It also sentenced other five accused, including Khaleda's elder son and BNP Senior Vice Chairman Tarique Rahman, to 10-year imprisonment each. The other persons convicted in the graft case are former lawmaker Kazi Salimul Haque Kamal, businessman Sharfuddin Ahmed, Dr Kamal Uddin Siddiqui and Khaleda's nephew Mominur Rahman.