MiG-29 Case
Charges read to 5 accused
Air Marshal (retd) Jamal Uddin Ahmed and four others, accused in the MiG-29 purchase graft case, yesterday claimed themselves innocent and demanded justice before a Dhaka court after the charges were read out to them.
The four others are former defense secretary Syed Yusuf Hossain, Air Commodore (retd) Mirza Akhter Maruf, former joint secretary Hossain Serniabat, and Unique Group Managing Director Nur Ali.
Special Public Prosecutor Shaheen Ahmed Khan cited important portions of the statements taken from 34 prosecution witnesses and read the charges to the accused.
Judge Mohammad Abdul Majid of the Special Court for Dhaka division then asked the accused whether they were guilty or not.
The court also fixed May 22 for arguments from the prosecution and the defense.
Earlier the court recorded statements of 34 prosecution witnesses, including the complainant and the investigation officer of the case.
On August 12, 2008, the court relieved former army chief Mustafizur Rahman of all charges in the case after he died on August 3.
On August 20, 2008, a special court, dealing with graft cases, framed charges against Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina and five others.
The High Court quashed the case proceedings against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was also an accused in the case, on March 9 last year.
According to the prosecution, it was alleged that while Hasina was in power, she in collaboration with the other accused unnecessarily purchased eight MiG-29 jet fighters for gaining benefits, causing a loss of Tk 700 crore to the state exchequer.
The case was filed with Tejgaon Police Station against Hasina and six others on December 11, 2001.
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