War Crimes Trial
Charges not specific
Says Sayedee's lawyer
The lawyer of detained Jamaat-e-Islami leader Delwar Hossain Sayedee yesterday argued before the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) that the prosecutors have brought “vague and hypothetical” allegations against his client.
Defence lawyer Tajul Islam told the tribunal that the charges brought against Sayedee are not specific as these are not defined in the ICT Act of 1973. So trying him under this act would be unjustified.
The defence also pleaded for not issuing order to frame charge against the Jamaat leader who is accused of committing crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War of Bangladesh.
“It was not made clear when, how and whom he [Sayedee] killed in 1971,” Sayedee's lawyer told the tribunal.
The defence lawyer also argued that the details of the witnesses were not mentioned in the documents, which the prosecutors have submitted to them.
Sayedee was produced before the tribunal around 10:30am yesterday, a day after he was reported 'unfit to travel' to court room from jail. After around three hours of hearing, the three-member judges' panel headed by Justice Nizamul Haque adjourned the hearing till September 25.
The judges also rejected the defence prayer to recall the tribunal's July 14 order, which took Sayedee's crimes against humanity into cognisance. Arrested on July 30 last year, Sayedee is accused of killing, torching houses and other war crimes in 1971 war.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments