Khalaf Murder Case
HC confirms death sentence of one
3 get life term, one acquitted
The High Court on Monday confirmed the death sentence of one out of five muggers, who were condemned to death by a special tribunal for the killing of Saudi Arabian diplomat Khalaf Al Ali in Dhaka in 2012.
Condemned convict Saiful Islam Mamun had shot Khalaf to death when other muggers targeted him expecting to snatch dollars from the foreigner when he was taking a walk near his house at about 1:00am on March 6, 2012, the court observed.
The court commuted the death sentences of three others – Mohammad Al Amin, Rafiqul Islam Khokan and Akbar Ali Lalu – to imprisonment for life term as it had found them guilty of helping the ‘killer.’
It, however, acquitted fugitive convict Selim Chowdhury of the charge as his involvement was not proved.
The bench of Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury and Justice Kazi Md Ejarul Hoque Akondo pronounced the verdict after hearing the death reference for the confirmation of the death sentences and appeals preferred by the four detained convicts against their sentences through the jail authority.
On December 30, 2012 Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal 4 handed down the death sentences to the five muggers for the sensational murder of the diplomat in Baridhara diplomatic area.
The High Court began the hearing in the death reference and appeals in June and ended on November 3.
The government-appointed attorneys Khabir Uddin Bhuiyan and Aminur Rashid Raju defended the four convicts in jail while the court appointed lawyer Mahmuda Begum defended fugitive Selim Chowdhury.
According to the prosecution, Khalaf was taking a walk near his house at Baridhara at about 1:00am on March 6, 2012, when the muggers targeted him. They wanted to mug him but shot him to death finding no foreign currency in his possession.
The murder of Saudi Embassy second secretary Khalaf, 45, raised serious concern over foreign diplomats’ security in the capital.
-With New Age input
