I'm being sued because I served at Int'l Crimes tribunal: Tureen Afroz

Former International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) prosecutor Barrister Tureen Afroz has been shown arrested in a case over allegations of attempted abduction, assault and intimidation.

Today (14 December), police produced Afroz before the court from jail. At around 11:30am, she was taken to the courtroom of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Court under tight police security.

During the hearing, Afroz told her lawyer that she is facing repeated cases because of her role at the ICT.

So far, a total of six cases have been filed against her, including charges of murder, attempted murder and attempted abduction linked to the July movement.

While standing in the dock, she was seen speaking with her lawyer, Morshed Hossain Shaheen, as another case was nearing the end of its hearing. Subsequently, an application was filed to show her arrested in the case.

When the defence sought permission to speak, the judge said they would be heard after the arrest application was disposed of.

Following the complainant's application, the court of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Mehdi Hasan on Sunday accepted the application to show her arrested.

With the court's permission, defence lawyer Shaheen said Afroz is being repeatedly sued because of her duties at the ICT.

"So far, six cases have been filed against her, including murder and attempted murder related to the July movement, and most recently, allegations of abduction and assault. The allegations in this case date back to 2022," he said, adding that she has been accused of abusing the influence of the ICT.

Opposing the bail plea, state prosecutor Md Kayyum Hossain Nayan told the court that Afroz purchased two buses from the complainant for Tk78 lakh but took possession without paying the full amount.

"When the complainant demanded the remaining money, she threatened him by misusing the influence of the ICT and later went to his house, attempted to abduct his daughter and vandalised the house," he alleged.

He added that when the complainant attempted to file a case in 2022, the police did not register it, prompting him to seek legal recourse through the court.

Police arrested Afroz from her residence in Uttara on 7 April. The following day, the Dhaka CMM Court granted her four days' remand in an attempted murder case. She has remained in jail since then.