The presidential pardon of sentences against Shahadab Akbar, son of deputy leader of parliament Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, has come under criticism from various quarters.
Shahadab was sentenced to 18 years' imprisonment and fined Tk 1.6 crore in absentia in four cases filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission and National Board of Revenue during the tenure of the last caretaker government.
President Zillur Rahman has recently forgiven Shahadab, who did not surrender to the court in connection with any of the cases.
BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain at BNP central office yesterday told journalists that the presidential pardon of sentences against Shahadab is an act of abuse of justice.
The president has granted clemency without following legal procedures, he said.
Delwar said convicted Sahadab, who had been on the run, did not surrender to the court or filed any appeal against the convictions.
Senior lawyer barrister Rafique-Ul Huq said there is no legal bar for the president to pardon anyone's sentences in a case following the recommendation of the prime minister.
He said many convicts, who had not surrendered to the court, will now try to obtain presidential pardon.
ACC lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan said the president has pardoned Shahadab, son of ruling party leader Sajeda Chowdhury, under political consideration.
A special court on November 11 accepted a government prayer moved by public prosecutor Abu Abdullah for withdrawal of the convictions against Shahadab following the presidential clemency, he said.
He said Abdullah had no jurisdiction to submit a prayer to the court for withdrawing the convictions against Shahadab in two cases filed by ACC as he is a public prosecutor, not a counsel for ACC.
http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=114125
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