Khaleda Zia’s 10-year jail term in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case stayed

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (SC) on Monday stayed 10-year jail sentence of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.

A three-member bench of the Appellate Division, headed by Justice Md Ashfaqul Islam, passed the order after holding hearing on two separate leave to appeal petitions filed by Khaleda.

The court also said the punishment of Khlaeda Zia will remain stay until her appeal hearing dispose. And the BNP chief has been directed to submit the summery of her appeal within two weeks.

Senior advocates Zainul Abedin and AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon, Barrister Kayser Kamal, Barrister Md Ruhul Quddus Kazal, Advocate Gazi Qamrul Islam Sazal and Jakir Hossain Bhuiyan were present in the court for Khaleda Zia.

Joynul Abedin said the court granted the leave to appeal petition and suspended the sentence. “Now after filing the appeal, the appeal will be heard. Until then, the sentence will remain suspended.”

On Sunday, after holding hearing on leave to appeal petitions, the same court set today to pass its order.

Dhaka Special Judge Court-5 on February 8, 2018, convicted former prime minister and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and sentenced her to five years’ imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case. It also sentenced five others, including her son and BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman to 10 years’ imprisonment each.

Subsequently, a petition was filed by the ACC, following which the HC on October 30 increased the punishment to 10 years’ imprisonment.

On November 3, the HC allowed Khaleda to prepare paper books for hearing her another appeal against a lower court judgement that convicted and sentenced her to seven years’ imprisonment in Zia Charitable Trust corruption case.

The Zia Orphanage Trust graft case was filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission in July 2008, accusing Khaleda of misappropriating over Tk2.10 crore that was received as grants for orphans via a foreign bank.