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15 absentee witnesses' statements accepted
 [Bangla Daily Star] The International Crimes Tribunal-1 yesterday received statements of 15 prosecution witnesses, given to an investigation officer, as evidence against Jamaat leader Delwar Hossain Sayeedi....Islamic orator and politician. He was a former Member of Parliament in the National Assembly of Bangladesh from 1996 to 2008, and is one of the most prominent leaders of the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami... It refused to do the same for 31 other witnesses. The three-member tribunal in the order said the remaining 31 witnesses' situation was different and they did not come into the purview of a relevant law under which the other statements were taken in as evidence. Meanwhile, ...back at the laboratory the fumes had dispersed, to reveal an ominous sight... the prosecution says that it will bring forth only one more witness before the tribunal prior to finishing off with prosecution witnesses. The defence is, however, unhappy with the court's order and said it would file a review petition against the order. The prosecution in a prayer on March 20 said it would not be possible to produce 46 prosecution witnesses against Sayeedi as they were either very sick or could not be found. It had claimed that 19 of those witnesses were key eyewitnesses to war crimes committed by Sayeedi during the Liberation War. It had appealed that the statements of 46 witnesses made before an investigation officer be taken in as evidence. The prosecution has so far produced 27 witnesses before the court. Sayeedi, who is facing 20 charges of crimes against humanity, was produced before the tribunal yesterday. He is among six Jamaat and two BNP leaders facing war crimes charges at the tribunal. Posted by: Fred 2012-03-30 |
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