Graft: Maya seeks review of SC order

Relief and Disaster Management Minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya. Photo: Star

Relief and Disaster Management Minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya today filed a petition with the Supreme Court seeking review of its order that scrapped his acquittal in a corruption case.

He said in the petition that the High Court had rightly acquitted him of the corruption charges and there was no illegality in the HC judgement.

Advocate Sayed Ahmed Raja, a lawyer for lawmaker Maya, told The Daily Star that the SC will fix a date for hearing the review petition.

Earlier on Sunday, the Supreme Court permitted Maya to file a review petition against its order that on June 14 scrapped the HC verdict and sent his appeal to HC for its rehearing.  

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case with Sutrapur Police Station on June 13, 2007, accusing the ruling Awami League leader of amassing wealth worth Tk 29 lakh illegally and concealing information about it.

A special judge's court in Dhaka in February 2008 convicted Maya and sentenced him to 13 years' imprisonment in the case. It also fined him Tk 5 crore and ordered confiscation of about Tk 6 crore of his ill-gotten wealth.

On June 14, the Appellate Division quashed the HC verdict, saying that the HC had not applied its judicial mind in acquitting Maya of the corruption charges brought against him.

The SC also asked the HC to hold further hearing and dispose of the appeal filed by Maya challenging the lower court judgment against him.