Seeking review of a Supreme Court order that scrapped his acquittal in a corruption case, Disaster Management and Relief Minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya has filed a petition with the apex court.
In the petition filed yesterday, he said the earlier acquittal by the High Court had been correct and the judgement lawful. The Supreme Court will now fix a date to hear the matter, said Maya’s lawyer Advocate Sayed Ahmed Raja.
On Sunday, the Supreme Court permitted the minister to file a review petition against its order.
Earlier on June 14, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court cancelled the High Court acquittal of ruling party lawmaker Maya from a 13-year jail sentence in a corruption case.
In its decision, the Appellate Division said the High Court had not applied its judicial mind in acquitting Maya from the corruption charges. It also asked the High Court to hold further hearing and dispose of the appeal filed by Maya challenging the lower court judgement.
On June 13, 2007, the Anti-Corruption Commission filed the case against Maya with Sutrapur police station on charges of amassing illegal wealth worth Tk29 lakh and concealing information about it.
On February 14, 2008, a special court sentenced Maya to 13 years in jail in the case. Later on May 25, 2009, Maya filed an appeal with the High Court challenging the special court’s verdict.
After hearing the appeal, a High Court bench acquitted Maya from the corruption charges and cancelled his conviction.