Investigation officers testify over arms case against Papia, her husband

Two investigation officers (IO) today gave their statements before a Dhaka tribunal in connection with an arms case against expelled Jubo Mohila League leader Shamima Nur Papia and her husband Mofizur Rahman.

The witnesses are: Sub-Inspector Sudhansu Sarkar of Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station and also the first IO, and DB Inspector Sairul Islam and also the second IO of the case.

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

SI Md Arifuzzaman of Rab and also the last IO gave his deposition before the same tribunal as well.

The judge will record the rest of Arifuzzaman's statement on September 8.

In his statement, SI Sudhansu said he took over the charge of investigation on February 24 after the case was filed against the couple.

After taking charge of investigation, he visited the place of occurrence and prepared a sketch map.

Later the case was transferred to the DB for next course of action, the witness added.

In his statement, Sairul said he took over the investigation on March 1 and continued its investigation till March 11. During the time, he visited the place of occurrence again, prepared a sketch map and recorded statements of three witnesses.

He also seized Tk 10 lakh from the house of couple, Sairul added.

Later the case was transferred to the Rab.

Earlier, nine prosecution witnesses, including complainant of the case, gave their statements before the same tribunal.

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

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

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