The copy of the Supreme Court verdict, that awarded capital punishment to Jamaat leader Abdul Quader Mollah in connection with a war crimes case, is likely to be released within a day or two. “The draft copy of the verdict has been finalised. After completion of necessary formalities, it will be made public within a day or two,” Additional Attorney General MK Rahman told The Independent on Sunday. After completing the formalities, MK Rahman added, “The judges, who delivered the verdict, would put their signatures on the copy of the verdict.”
Answering to a query, he said, “I hope the copy of the verdict would be made public in a day or two.” On February 5, the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) sentenced Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Abdul Quader Mollah to life as five war crimes charges against him were proven beyond doubt.
On March 3, both the government and the defence filed separate appeal petitions with the Appellate Division against the tribunal verdict. In its appeal, the government sought capital punishment while the defence sought acquittal of the Jamaat leader. On Sept 17, the SC disposed of the petitions and awarded death penalty to Mollah on charges of crimes against humanity committed during the 1971 Liberation War.
A five-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Md Muzammel Hossain delivered the verdict by a majority of 4:1. The four other members of the bench are Justices Surendra Kumar Sinha, M Abdul Wahhab Miah, Syed Mahmud Hossain and AHM Shamsuddin Chowdhury.
According to sources, Justice M Abdul Wahhab Miah differed with the four other judges of the bench. This was the first time the Appellate Division delivered its verdict on an appeal petition involving the war crimes trial.
-With The Independent input
