Khaleda's appeal hearing Thursday
Khaleda challenges graft verdict, seeks bail
BNP Chief Khaleda Zia. file photo
- Appeal a day after verdict copy is released
- Khaleda claims innocence on 25 grounds
- Says charges brought are false, fabricated
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia today filed an appeal challenging the lower court verdict that sentenced her to five years imprisonmentin Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.
In the 1,222-page appeal, Khaleda prayed to the High Court to acquit her of the corruption charge and grant her bail in the case, advocate Sagir Hossain Leon, a lawyer for the BNP chief, told The Daily Star.
The High Court has fixed Thursday for hearing on whether it will accept the appeal. The bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Shahidul Karim will also hear the bail plea on the same day.
Khaleda also prayed to the court to stay the lower court verdict that also fined her Tk 2.10 crore.
Claiming herself innocent, she mentioned 25 grounds in the petition on which the HC may consider her prayer, the lawyer said.
Khaleda filed the appeal a day after the Special Judge's Court-5 of Dhaka, which found Khaleda guilty in the graft case on February 8, released the full verdict yesterday.