ICT sends war crimes suspect Suliman to jail

A war crimes tribunal today sent Suliman Mollah, accused in crimes against humanity during 1971, to jail after police produced him before the court.

Suliman was produced before International Crimes Tribunal-1 around 3:00pm.

Police arrested Suliman Mollah yesterday from his house in Sariatpur Sadar upazila hours after the tribunal issued an arrest warrant for him for his alleged involvement in the crimes committed in the district during 1971.

Yesterday morning, the tribunal issued arrest warrants for two war crimes suspects, including Suliman, following a prosecution petition. Prosecution declined to name the other suspect as he may go into hiding if his name was disclosed.

The tribunal also directed the prosecution to submit a report on July 30 over the progress into the investigation against the two suspects. Investigation agency of the tribunal started investigation against them in April this year.

According to the prosecution, Suliman was an alleged organiser of Shariatpur Peace Committee and Razakar Bahini, two anti-liberation organisations in 1971. The other suspect was a member of Razakar Bahini in Shariatpur.

Prosecutor Hrishikesh Saha told The Daily Star on Sunday that they had filed the petition as the investigators found evidence of their involvement in war-time crimes committed in the district in 1971.

He said Suliman was also a leader of Nezam-e-Islami, an anti-liberation political party, in Shariatpur. He contested the 1970's election as a candidate of that party but was defeated.