ICT-2 rejects pleas against in camera testimonies
The International Crimes Tribunal-2 yesterday rejected a defence petition seeking recall of its July 12 order allowing two female witnesses to give testimonies behind closed doors, in a case against Jamaat leader Abdul Quader Mollah.
The three-member tribunal headed by Justice ATM Fazle Kabir also rejected another plea in the petition recalling the case's second prosecution witness for further cross-examination over the contents of three video clippings produced by the defence.
The case accuses Quader of committing crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War.
The tribunal, as per a prosecution petition, had fixed July 17 for the closed door testimonies to protect the “identities and privacy” of the witnesses and the defence had not opposed it.
Chief of the defence counsels of detained Jamaat leaders, Abdur Razzaq, said there was no reason to take the statement of one witness, over a murder, behind closed doors as the murder victim was not her relative. Prosecutor Mohammad Ali said the victim was her husband and she was a very religious person and afraid of testifying in public.
On the plea, Razzaq said the cross-examination of Syed Shahidul Haque Mama was completed on July 12 without the clippings being played. Ali said Shahidul had left for Sweden and the cross-examination concerning the clippings had been completed.
Meanwhile, the defence cross-examined the first prosecution witness, Hamidul Haque, in a case against Jamaat leader Muhammad Kamaruzzaman. The tribunal adjourned the proceedings till July 19.
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