Appellate Division stays HC verdict acquitting Shahed in arms case

The chamber judge of the Appellate Division of Supreme Court has stayed a High Court verdict that acquitted Regent Group and Regent Hospital Chairman Mohammad Shahed whom the lower court awarded life-term imprisonment in an arms case.

Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division, Justice M Enayetur Rahim, passed the order on Sunday after a hearing on an appeal in this regard.

The court also asked the prosecution to file a leave to appeal against the acquittal verdict delivered by the High Court, said Deputy Attorney General Md Sarwar Hossain Bappy.

Attorney General Abu Mohammad Amin Uddin and DAG Sarwar stood for the prosecution in the court today while senior lawyer SM Shahjahan and advocate Shah Manzurul Haque represented Shahed.

Earlier on Thursday, the High Court acquitted Shahed whom the lower court sentenced life-term imprisonment in an arms case.

On the day, his lawyer Manzurul Haque said the weapon, which was recovered from his client's car in Uttara area of the capital Dhaka, was not genuine and the prosecution could not prove it. That is why, the court accepted his appeal and acquitted him.

On September 28, 2020, Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge KM Imrush Kayesh gave Shahed life-term imprisonment in the lawsuit.

FH/SU