A Dhaka court yesterday recorded the statement of a witness in the radar purchase corruption case involving former military ruler HM Ershad and four others.
Acting judge of divisional special court Md Abdul Majid recorded the cross-examination and fixed February 20 for the rest of the cross-examination and also the next prosecution witness.
Ershad’s counsel Sheikh Sirajul Islam completed cross-examining the witness, investigation officer and Anti-Corruption Commission Deputy Director Manjur Ahmed. During cross-examinations, Ershad was not present in the court.
Another accused Sultan Mahmud’s counsel started to cross-examine prosecution witness Manjur Ahmed.
The prosecution has so far produced 11 witnesses for cross-examination.
Manjur made his deposition on July 11 last year as the prosecution witness. He is the 11th prosecution witness.
The then assistant superintendent of the Bureau of Anti-Corruption, Md Ali Haider, filed the case with the Dhaka Cantonment police station on April 4, 1992.
After a long investigation, Manjur and Abdus Sattar Sarker submitted the charge sheet on October 27, 1994 to the court, accusing Ershad and four others.
On August 12, 1995, a charge was framed against the accused. But, the trial proceedings at the lower court was stayed by the High Court for a long time.
The complainant stated that then president Ershad in collusion with the four accused purchased a radar for the air force, causing Tk 640.4m loss to the state.
Other accused are former Air Force chief Air-Vice Marshal (retd) Sultan Ahmed, Momtaj Uddin Ahmed, Director of United Traders AKM Musa.