Even though the prosecution office has no idea about prosecutor AKM Saiful Islam, the latter maintains personal contact with some colleagues while his family members have been using the official car since he went abroad in April.
The prosecution office on Wednesday wrote to the Law Ministry mentioning that they did not have any idea about the prosecutor’s position. They do not have any contact number of the prosecutor who is a US citizen and lives in Washington with his family.
The letter says Saiful was supposed to join office after his leave expired on April 17.
Saiful was appointed during the formation of the International Crimes Tribunal. He flew to Bangladesh to join the team. Earlier he visited his family several times, but this time, he has been out of office for the last three months without notifying the prosecution office.
He was the conducting prosecutor in the war crimes case against Jamaat-e-Islami leader ATM Azhar, who allegedly was the Rangpur district al-Badr commander during the 1971 Liberation War.
Tribunal sources said the prosecutor had not handed over his official car as per the rules. The related provision says the car is a property of the prosecution office and it can allocate the vehicle for someone else when someone goes for a long vacation.
The car (Dhaka metro Kha 13-2284) is now being used his family members in Dhaka.
Acting chief prosecutor Syed Haider Ali said: “We do not know whether he appealed for extension of the leave. Even though I am in charge of the office, I do not get any news or updates on his whereabouts. The car is now under his father’s custody.”
Source said the Law Ministry had sent a formal letter asking the prosecution about for Saiful’s present position. In response, the prosecution office mentioned that they were in dark about him.
Prosecutor Shahedur Rahman said: “If he is in any problem, he has to inform his office. He left his case [against ATM Azhar] in the middle of trial and now other prosecutors are conducting it. It is very clear that an employee has some code of conducts to follow.”