International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) Prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim on Sunday rejected Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar’s claim that the tribunal was trying only absconding accused while cases against those appearing before it were not progressing.
Tamim described the allegation as “completely untrue”, saying trials involving accused persons appearing before the tribunal were continuing, although they generally took longer to conclude than cases against fugitives.
At a press conference on Friday, Porwar claimed that the tribunal was delivering verdicts only against absconding accused whose sentences could not be executed.
Responding to journalists’ questions, Tamim said, “The secretary general of Jamaat-e-Islami has said that only absconding accused are being tried at the tribunal and no verdicts are being delivered against those present. We consider this statement completely untrue.”
Asked whether Porwar’s remarks amounted to contempt of court, Tamim said it was for the tribunal to determine whether a statement constituted contempt.
Explaining the difference in the pace of trials, he said the state generally appointed defence lawyers for absconding accused, who conducted cases based on documents submitted by the prosecution.
By contrast, accused persons appearing before the tribunal engaged their own lawyers, often several of them, and provided instructions during proceedings. This could prolong hearings and delay verdicts, he said.
Tamim stressed that the longer duration did not mean such cases were not being tried.
He said trials against absconding accused generally concluded faster, which explained why verdicts in those cases were being delivered first.
Several cases involving accused persons appearing before the tribunal were approaching their final stages, he added.
Tamim said proceedings were continuing against several accused, including former State Minister for Information and Communication Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak, Salman F Rahman, Anisul Huq, Rashed Khan Menon, Kamrul Islam and Ziaul Ahsan.
He expressed hope that proceedings in these cases would conclude by December.
