DHAKA: BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia has filed an appeal with the High Court challenging the lower court verdict that sentenced her seven years imprisonment in Zia Charitable Trust graft case.

Khaleda Zia’s lawyer Barrister Nawshad Jamir said the petition was filed with the concerned branch of HC on Sunday (Nov 18).

Earlier on Oct 29, Judge Md Akhtaruzzaman of Dhaka Special Judge Court--5 sentenced BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and 3 others to 7 years jail each, in much-hyped Zia Charitable Trust graft case.

Moreover, all the four convicts have been fined Tk10 lakh each. They have to serve more 6 months in jail each, in case of defying the fine.

Three other convicts are—Khaleda Zia’s former political affairs secretary Harris Chowdhury, his former aide and former BIWTA acting director Ziaul Islam Munna, and former Dhaka city corporation mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka’s personal secretary Monirul Islam Khan.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the graft case against Khaleda Zia and three others with Tejgaon Police Station on August 8, 2010 for embezzling Tk3.15 crore from Zia Charitable Trust.

On February 8, a Dhaka court sentenced Khaleda Zia to five years imprisonment in Zia Orphanage Trust case. 

She was sent to Dhaka central jail following the verdict. Since then, she has been in jail.

BDST: 1623 HRS, NOV 18, 2018
AP/SMS