5 more witnesses testify in arms case against Papia, her husband

Five more prosecution witnesses today gave their statements before a Dhaka tribunal in connection with an arms case against expelled leader of Jubo Mohila League Shamima Nur Papia and her husband Mofizur Rahman.

The witnesses are -- Assistant Sub-Inspector Sumon Miah, constable Jibon Chandra, sepoys Aleya Khatun and Faruk Hossain and civilian Dipto Das.

Judge KM Emrul Kayesh of the Special Tribunal-1 of Dhaka recorded the witness statements. Later the witnesses were cross-examined on behalf of the accused.

The judge fixed tomorrow for the next hearing of the case.

Earlier, two other witnesses, including complainant of the case, gave their statements before the tribunal.

A team of Rab arrested Papia and her husband -- a former Chhatra League leader -- and their two accomplices from Dhaka Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on February 22 when they were trying to leave the country.

The following morning, Rab raided the house of Papia at Indira Road in Farmgate and recovered a foreign pistol, two magazines, 20 bullets, five bottles of foreign liquor, Tk 58,41,000 cash, credit and debit cards of different banks.

On February 24, he filed an arms case against the couple with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station.

During their arrest, Rab members recovered seven passports, Tk 2,12,270, fake notes worth Tk 25,600, $11,481, 420 Sri Lankan rupees, 301 Indian rupees, and two debit cards from their possession.

Earlier on August 23, the same tribunal framed charges against the couple in the case.

On June 29, Sub-Inspector Arifuzzaman at Rab, also the investigation officer (IO) of the case, submitted the charge sheet against the couple to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court of Dhaka.

Three cases were filed against the couple with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station under the Arms and the Special Powers Acts, while another case was lodged with Biman Bandar Police Station under the Special Powers Act.

Another case was filed against the four -- the couple and their two accomplices -- with Gulshan Police Station under the Money Laundering Prevention Act.

On August 4, the Anti-Corruption Commission lodged a case against Papia and her husband for amassing about Tk 6.24 crore illegally.