The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has acquitted BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, accepting her appeal against the High Court's 10-year prison sentence in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case.
Besides, BNP Acting Chairperson Tarique Rahman and all others accused in the case have been acquitted from the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case.
The previous High Court and lower court verdicts in the Zia Orphanage Trust case have also been dismissed.
A full Appellate Division bench led by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed announced the verdict on Wednesday morning (15 January).
Senior lawyer Zainul Abedin, AM Mahbub Uddin Knokon, Bodruddoza Badal, Ruhul Quddus Kazal and Kayser Kamal represented Khaleda Zia during the appeal hearing. Lawyers Zakir Hossain Bhuiyan and Maqsud Ullah were also present on her legal team.
Senior lawyer SM Shahjahan appeared on behalf of Kazi Salimul Haque Kamal, a co-accused in the case.
Representing the state, Additional Attorney General Arshadur Rouf and lawyer Anik R Haque presented their arguments. Lawyer Asif Hasan appeared for the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
The Appellate Division pronounced the verdict in response to the appeals of Khaleda Zia challenging the High Court judgement that on October 30, 2018, enhanced the five years' imprisonment handed to her by the trial court to 10 years in the corruption case.
On November 11 last year, the Appellate Division stayed the HC judgment in the case and also allowed Khaleda Zia to file two appeals with it challenging the HC verdict.
The 79-year-old former prime minister then filed the appeals, praying to the apex court to scrap the HC judgment and to acquit her from the case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission.
Bd-Pratidin English/ AM
