SC stays graft case sentences against Mir Nasiruddin, Mir Helaluddin

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (SC) today allowed a leave to appeal petition filed by former state minister and BNP vice-chairman Mir Mohammad Nasiruddin and his son and party's assistant organising secretary Mir Mohammad Helaluddin against a graft case conviction, staying the jail sentences pronounced against the father-son duo.
 
A three-member apex court bench headed by Justice Md Ashfaqul Islam passed the order after holding a hearing on the leave to appeal petition filed against the High Court judgment. 
 
Senior advocate Ragib Rouf Chowdhury moved the plea for Mir Nasir and Mir Helal while Asif Hasan stood for the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
 
The ACC, on March 6, 2007, filed the case with the Gulshan Police Station for amassing illegal wealth and concealing information about their properties. A special judge court on July 4, 2007, sentenced Mir Mohammad Nasiruddin and Mir Mohammad Helaluddin to 13 years and three years in jail, respectively.
 
The High Cour,t after holding a hearing on separate appeals against the lower court conviction, cancelled the verdict, making ACC appeal against this judgment. The High Court, after that, held a hearing on the matter afresh and upheld the lower court judgment against the duo.
 
They later filed a leave to appeal petition against this judgment.