The defence lawyer for businessman Sharfuddin Ahmed yesterday termed the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case a “fictitious case” and sought acquittal of his client from the charges of money embezzlement.
Lawyer Ahsan Ullah made the comment while concluding his closing arguments. He argued for an hour saying that the charges brought against his client were not proved.
Meantime, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia appeared before the Special Judge Court-5 of Dhaka at Bakshibazar at 11:54am and stayed there till 3:00pm, said one of her lawyers Ziauddin Zia.
Ahsan also started his arguments for another accused former BNP lawmaker Salimul Haq Kamal. But Judge Akhtaruzzaman adjourned the hearing till today as the defence could not complete arguments in the case.
On July 3, 2008, the Anti-Corruption Commission filed the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case accusing Khaleda, her eldest son Tarique Rahman and four others for misappropriating over Tk 2.10 crore that the trust received as grant for orphans via a foreign bank.
Of the six accused, Khaleda is on bail while Salimul and Sharfuddin is in jail and three others, including Tarique, are on the run.
In his argument, Ahsan Ullah said in 2006, Sharfuddin took Tk 2.10 crore as advance from Zia Orphanage Trust as part of a deal to sell his Ashulia land to the trust. The land however could not be sold to the trust. Sharfuddin returned the money, Tk 2.10 crore, in favour of Zia Orphanage Trust.
So, the allegations against his clients were false and fabricated, he said.
Earlier, Khaleda's lawyers concluded their arguments and sought her acquittal saying that the charges brought against her were false.
