Law
week
Bidisha
not freed after granted bail
Former military ruler HM Ershad's estranged wife Bidisha
was not released from the jail despite her obtaining an
ad-interim bail in the passport forgery case, as the authorities
showed her arrested the same day in a cheating case.
Ershad filed the case with the Court of First Class Magistrate,
Dhaka on June 5 on charges of her hiding her marriage
with a British Peter Stuart Wilson from him and marrying
him without divorcing Wilson. Yesterday, Ershad's lawyers
filed a petition with the Court of First Class Magistrate,
Dhaka for showing Bidisha arrested in the cheating case
and sending a custody warrant to the Dhaka Central Jail.
Later, Magistrate Rehana Yasmin issued the warrant, which
was sent to the jail. The news of the case broke when
relatives and lawyers were waiting for Bidisha's release
at the prison cell of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical
College Hospital (BSMMUH) where she was undergoing treatment
under police watch. The
Daily Star, June 14.
Law
secy tells of judges' corruption
Law Secretary Alauddin Sardar said there are widespread
allegations of corruption against some judges and the
staff of the Dhaka District and Sessions Judge's Court.
While speaking at the inaugural function of a computer
training programme for the staff of Dhaka judgeship, the
law secretary alerted all concerned in this regard. Minister
for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Moudud Ahmed
inaugurated the training programme at the judges' court
conference room. State Minister for Law Shahjahan Omar
also spoke at the function chaired by Dhaka District and
Sessions Judge Mohammad Rafiqul Islam.
Asking
all to work to bring back people's confidence in the judiciary,
Moudud Ahmed said the government has amended different
laws to ease the way of justice to litigants. Moudud termed
the amendments a landmark step which has already quickened
trial and justice to the litigants. Lauding Dhaka District
and Sessions Judge Mohammad Rafiqul Islam for arranging
such a timely training programme taking no fund from the
government, the law minister said such computer training
programmes will also be introduced in all judgeships across
the country. The
Daily Star, June 15.
Sex
abuse trial pop superstar Jackson found not guilty
Michael Jackson walked out of court a free man, cleared
of all charges in a dramatic sex abuse trial that threatened
to destroy his career and send him to prison for nearly
two decades.
Jackson
gripped the hand of his lead attorney, Tom Mesereau, and
dabbed at his face with a tissue as the verdicts were
read to a courtroom packed with reporters and about three
dozen fans of the 46-year-old entertainer, many of whom
broke into prayers or sobs. Defence lawyer Susan Yu and
Jackson's mother, Katherine, wiped away tears as he was
hustled from the courtroom and returned to his sprawling
Neverland Valley ranch -- where a teenage boy had claimed
the singer molested him after nights of heavy drinking.
Jackson,
who looked expressionless and gaunt as he left the court,
refused comment but blew a kiss to waiting fans. He faced
nearly two decades in prison if convicted on 10 counts
of lewd acts with a child, giving a minor alcohol and
conspiring to commit child abduction, extortion and false
imprisonment. The case against Jackson was sparked by
a February 2003 television documentary in which the singer
was shown holding hands with his accuser and defending
his practice of sharing a bed with young boys. Reuters,
Santa Maria, June 15.
Mobile
courts hit road to nab adulterators
The Daily Star reports prompt home ministry action
Two mobile courts begin a round-the-year operations to
hunt down unscrupulous traders who spray chemicals on
fruits, a serious health concern. "We're very alarmed
at this (spraying of chemicals) and we want it to be checked
immediately," State Minister for Home Lutfozzaman
Babar said. "The mobile courts will work regularly
from now on," Babar told reporters after a high-level
meeting on law and order at the home ministry.
The
courts, each headed by a metropolitan magistrate, will
primarily work in the capital. Two platoons of police
and four vehicles will be kept ready round-the-clock to
rush to the spot to arrest dishonest traders. The move
came after trial raids on Tuesday when 12 people were
held with chemically poisoned mangoes in Old Dhaka. A
mobile court sentenced five of them to six months' imprisonment.
The home ministry had ordered the raids. The Daily Star
on Tuesday carried a report titled 'Food tainted with
toxic colours, risky mixings'.
Experts
said traders use carbide for artificial ripening and preservation
of fruits, especially mango. "Mixing hazardous chemicals
is a punishable act for which the offender could be awarded
a maximum of six months' imprisonment," said Magistrate
Mamun-Al-Rashid, who headed the mobile court on Tuesday.
The meeting also decided to strengthen security at city
markets that recently saw some burglaries, the latest
one on Friday at Rapa Plaza. Close circuit televisions
(CCTV) will be set up to watch the movement of the market-goers,
the meeting decided. Deputy commissioners (DCs) of Dhaka
Metropolitan Police have been instructed to supervise
setting up the CCTV by market committees. The
Daily Star, June 16.
Aug
21 Grenade Attack
Interpol invited to probe 'disclosures'
The government has invited Interpol to carry out a follow-up
probe into last year's grisly grenade attack on an Awami
League rally following 'disclosure of crucial clues' by
two recent high-profile arrestees. "We've got some
crucial clues regarding the August 21 grenade attack,"
State Minister for Home Lutfozzaman Babar told reporters
yesterday, referring to the interrogation of top terror
Arman Khan and former city corporation ward commissioner
and AL leader Mokhlesur Rahman. On the expected time for
the arrival of Interpol members, Babar, emerging out of
a law and order meeting at the Home Ministry conference
room yesterday, said, "I hope, very soon." Asked
whether the government is going to invite the Federal
Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for the investigation, Babar
said: "We're not planning to invite them at this
moment. But they are always welcome, if they want to investigate."
A
letter was sent to the Interpol Headquarters at Lyon in
France Monday, requesting agents to assist Bangladeshi
investigators following the reported 'disclosures' made
by Arman and Mokhlesur. Twenty people including AL's women
affairs secretary Ivy Rahman were killed and hundred others
were injured when unknown assailants hurled several grenades
at the AL rally on the Bangabandhi Avenue. Prothom
Alo, June 16.
Corresponding
with the Law Desk
Please send your mails, queries, and opinions to: Law
Desk, The Daily Star 19 Karwan Bazar, Dhaka-1215;
telephone 8124944,8124955,fax 8125155;email <dslawdesk@yahoo.co.uk,lawdesk@thedailystar.net
