DHAKA, Nov 1, 2017 (BSS) – The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (SC) today upheld death of one and life imprisonment for three in sensational Saudi embassy official Khalaf Al Ali murder trial.
“Dismissed,” said Acting Chief Justice Md Abdul Wahhab Miah, rejecting appeals filed by state and the defence as well.
A three-member Appellate Division bench headed by the acting chief justice passed the order upholding judgement pronounced by the High Court in 2013.
The apex court set today to pass the judgment after concluding hearing the appeals afresh yesterday.
Attorney General Mahubey Alam took part in the hearing for the state while Shikder Makbul Haque stood for death-row-convict Saiful Islam.
Earlier, the court on August 22 set October 10 to pass judgment in the case. But the defence later filed an application, pleading to allow a lawyer to defend his case. The court accepted the plea and decided to rehear the matter.
Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal-4 on December 30, 2012, sentenced five people to death in the case.
The High Court, after holding hearing on appeals and death reference, upheld death for one Saiful Islam, commuted death sentences of three Al Amin, Akbar Ali Lalu and Rafikul Islam to life imprisonment and acquitted one Selim Chowdhury of the charges on November 18, 2013.
All but Selim were behind the bars.
The state on 2014 filed an appeal with the Appellate Division against the High Court verdict in 2014. Death-row-convict Saiful Islam too later lodged an appeal against the judgment.
Khalaf, 45, was shot on March 5, 2012, near his residence in Gulshan. He later succumbed to his injuries in a hospital. A case was filed with the Gulshan Police Station in this connection.