APP appears for accused, seizure list of arms case missing from Satkhira court

An Assistant Public Prosecutor (APP) has been served with a showcause notice for appearing in favour of the accused in the case by concealing his identity, influencing prosecution witnesses to testify in favour of the accused and thus destroying the merit of the case.

The showcause notice has been served on APP Abdul jalil (2) by Public Prosecutor (PP) Syed Iftekhar Ali, court sources said. He has been asked to reply within seven days. It is also alleged that the APP was involved in removal of the seizure list.

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The seizure list is missing from the Second Additional District Judge's court, Satkhira, and files of the Public Prosecutor and the Assistant Superintendent of Police (Kaliganj circle).

The showcause notice followed an order by District and Sessions Judge AKM Zahir Ahmed on Joint District Judge Masudur Rahman to probe the matter.

Tipped-off, the Satkhira Sadar thana officer-in-charge (OC) had arrested alleged pirate Abdul Gafoor, son of Monsur Hawlader of Chondimukho Napitkhali village in Shyamnagar upazila, from Machchkhola village in the Sadar upazila in 2001.

Acting on his confession, police recovered three pipe guns, one gun and 92 cartridges from the Sunderbans.

Sub-Inspector Monsur Ahmed had prepared the seizure list of the recovered arms and ammunition.

A case was filed with Shyamnagar thana and the then officer-in-charge (OC) of the thana, Fazlur Rahman, was made the investigation officer (IO).

The IO submitted a charge sheet after investigation.

The case was sent to the Second Additional District Judge's court, Satkhira for trial.

The court recorded statements of five prosecution witnesses, who gave statements in favour of the accused.

It was alleged that APP Abdul Jalil appeared before the court for the accused though he was supposed to plead for the state.

He also allegedly influenced nine other prosecution witnesses to give statements in favour of the accused, as the five had done. Thus, the merit of the case was destroyed, it was alleged, in the showcause notice.

On Wednesday at one stage of the trial, it came to light that the seizure list was missing from the case docket.

Meanwhile, the Joint District Judge has recorded statements of four APPs, three lawyers appointed by the accused, two bench clerks and a peon.

A Union Parishad Chairman of Shyamnagar upazila is also allegedly involved in removal of the seizure list.

In such a situation, it will be difficult to prove charges against the accused if the missing seizure list is not recovered, said Advocate Azharal Islam, a senior lawyer.