Nasim exempted from court appearance

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A special court yesterday exempted detained former home minister Mohammad Nasim from appearing in person before the court during the trial of a corruption case.

Judge Shahed Noor Uddin of Special Court-3 set up on the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban premises passed the order and set July 23 for arguments in the case filed in connection with the installation of three lakh digital telephone lines illegally by WorldTel Holdings Ltd.

The Awami League leader submitted the petition to the court through his lawyer under Section 540 A (1) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) on June 26, seeking exemption from appearing in person before the court on health ground.

Nasim’s counsel advocate Sheikh Baharul Islam will represent him at the court during trial.

Earlier, the court deferred the hearing on the exemption petition three times following time prayers submitted by Nasim’s counsel.

Advocate Baharul yesterday appealed to the court for exempting Nasim from appearing before the court in person saying that his client is seriously ill and has been receiving treatment.

Prosecution lawyers opposed the defence saying that Nasim should not be exempted as the argument of the case is going on.

After a brief hearing, Judge Shahed Noor passed the order saying that it is the right of the accused to get exempted from appearing before the court in person.

Abdul Hye, an officer of the now-defunct Bureau of Anti-Corruption, filed the case against Nasim and another person on January 8, 2002.

According to the case proceedings, Nasim allowed WorldTel Holdings Ltd to install three lakh digital telephones in the city without floating any tender by abusing power.

Nasim’s associate, AHS Rahman, director of Consociates Ltd, was indicted in the case as he was appointed as a consultant illegally by the then telecommunications minister to supervise the project that “harmed the country’s interests”.

Nasim was sentenced to 13 years’ imprisonment in a corruption case on October 8 last year.

NASIM’S CONDITION UNCHANGED
Former minister Nasim, who suffered a brain haemorrhage, is not out of danger yet and his condition remains unchanged, said physicians at LabAid Specialised Hospital in the capital yesterday.

Nasim’s left side remains paralysed and he will be kept under intensive observation for another week, they said.

Nasim’s son Tanvir Shakil Joy told The Daily Star that his father’s condition is critical and he still cannot speak clearly.

The AL leader’s family sources also said they have already appealed to the chief adviser thrice for sending Nasim abroad for better treatment as his condition is not improving.

“Although two weeks have elapsed since we sent an application to the DIG Prison requesting to give us my father’s medical reports, we are yet to receive any response from them,” Joy added.

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