Ershad acquitted in another graft case

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Former president and Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad was yesterday acquitted in another corruption case filed against him 17 years ago.

The former president faced numerous criminal charges after he was deposed in a popular uprising in 1990. In August and September 2006, he was acquitted in four graft cases following his announcement of joining the BNP-led four-party alliance. He was also acquitted in a gold smuggling case.

Judge Golam Mortuza Majumder of the Special Court for Dhaka Division also acquitted detained former chairman of Bangladesh Shilpa Bank AKM Mosharraf Hossain and four others in the case.

The four others are Managing Director (MD) of M/s Three Star Poultry Farm Ltd Jahangir Kabir, directors of the farm Firoz Kabir, Borhan Uddin and Jahangir’s wife Nurunnahar Shelly.

According to the prosecution, former president Ershad and former chairman of Bangladesh Shilpa Bank AKM Mosharraf Hossain, allegedly abusing power, directed the authorities concerned to sanction Tk 35 lakh loan in favour of M/s Three Star Poultry Farm Ltd on September 4, 1979.

Golam Mortuza, an official of the now defunct Bureau of Anti-corruption, filed the graft case with Motijheel Police Station against Ershad, Mosharraf and four others on April 22, 1991. The investigation officer pressed charges against Ershad and five others on November 6, 1991.

During the judgment, Ershad, Mosharraf, Firoz and Borhan were present in the court while Jahangir and Shelly were absent.

Soon after the verdict, Ershad expressed his satisfaction, saying the case was filed on false allegation to harass him.

“The prosecution could not prove the charges brought against Ershad and five others. So, they are acquitted of charges,” the judge said in his judgment adding: “I found no evidence of misuse of power by them”.

Earlier, the court recorded statements of eight prosecution witnesses, including the complainant and the investigation officer (IO), of the case.

Trial of the case began on May 30 last year. The proceeding of the case remained stayed for a long time due to a High Court order even though the charges were framed on July 7, 1992.

THREE CASES PENDING

Three other corruption cases filed against Ershad have been pending with the same court for a long time.

According to the statement of the first case filed with Tejgaon Police Station in 1992, Ershad, while in power, allegedly directed the authorities concerned to purchase ENG (electronic news-gathering) equipment worth about Tk 2.93 crore for his and his wife’s use even though all broadcasting facilities were available at his secretariat.

According to the second case filed with the same police station, it was alleged that Ershad, defying the authorities’ decision, directed people concerned to accept donations from France instead of Finland to set up Microwave Telephone Lines in 49 upazilas. The government had to pay Tk 28 crore to France in interest, as the plan was not implemented finally, sources said.

In the third case filed with the Cantonment Police Station on May 4, 1992, it was alleged that Ershad directed the authorities concerned to purchase two high-power radars for Bangladesh Air Forces violating the recommendation of the radar evaluation team. It allegedly caused a loss of Tk 64 crore to the government.

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