Category Archives: Trial of A.M Alim

October 2013: ICT-2 Monthly Overview of Progress of Cases – Abdul Alim, Final Verdict; Jahir Uddin Jalal, Contempt Proceedings

Due to funding uncertainties late in the year, our project was forced to take a hiatus in the month of October.  During this time, our trial observers were not physically present in the courtroom to observe proceedings.  Trial observation resumed in November, after additional funding was secured to continue the project.  In the interest of continuity, we have compiled two brief posts—one for ICT-1 and the other for ICT-2— highlighting major developments in each of the cases that took place during our October hiatus. As we have done with Hartal coverage of the proceedings, the following information was compiled from official court records and communication with the parties to the proceedings.

This month, the Tribunal heard matters in the following cases:

  1. Chief Prosecutor vs. Abdul Alim
  2. Chief Prosecutor vs. Jahir Uddin Jalal
  3. Chief Prosecutor vs. AKM Yusuf

Tribunal 2 made more limited progress in October than in other months due to a combination of holidays and hartals. The Court was adjourned a number of days in observance of government holidays for Durga Puja (an important Hindu festival) and Eid-ul-Azha (an important Muslim festival), followed by several country-wide hartals, called by the major opposition parties of Bangladesh. The Court convened on 9 October 2013 to deliver Judgment in the case of Chief Prosecutor vs. Abdul Alim, and again on 10 October 2013 to hear arguments in the contempt proceedings against a Prosecution witness, Mr. Jahir Uddin Jalal. These major days of proceedings are covered separately in dedicated daily posts for each day.  Aside from the Judgment and the contempt proceedings, the following highlights the Court’s schedule in October. Continue reading →

Special Report: Alim Found Guilty on 9 Charges, Sentenced to Life Imprisonment

On 9 October 2013, Tribunal 2 issued its fifth verdict, concluding the case of Chief Prosecutor vs. Md. Abdul Alim alias M.A. Alim. The Tribunal found Alim guilty on nine of seventeen charges: specifically Charges 1, 2, 6, 7 8, 9, 10, 12, 14. He was acquitted of Charges 3, 4, 5, 11, 13, 15, 16 and 17.

The Charges and the Verdict:

  • Charge 1: Participating and substantially abetting and contributing the actual commission of the offence of deportation as Crime Against Humanity, committed against a member of the civilian population named Meher Uddin Chowdhury belonging to Awami League of Dom Doma village in Panchbibi. Charged under Section 3(2)(a) (g) and Section 4(1) of the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act, 1973.

22 September 2013: ICT-2 Daily Summary – Abdul Alim, Prosecution rebuttal and Defense application on extension of bail

Today the Tribunal heard matters in the following case:

  1. Chief Prosecutor vs. Abdul Alim

Tribunal 2 allowed Prosecutor Dr. Tureen Afroz to briefly make closing comments in rebuttal to Defense closing submissions. The Tribunal also heard and rejected a Defense application for the extension of bail of the Accused. The Tribunal then declared that the case of Abdul Alim was to be put as CAV (Curia advisari vult), a latin legal term meaning that the court wished to take the evidence under consideration for a final Judgment.

Prosecution Rebuttal and Closing Comments

Prosecutor Dr. Tureen Afroz advised the Court that she would try to briefly rebut some of the issues raised by the defense, address some of the legal questions raised by the judges during Defense closing submissions, and make submissions on sentencing. Continue reading →

19 September 2013: ICT-2 Daily Summary – Hartal Coverage of Abdul Alim, Defense Closing Arguments; Ashrafuzzaman Khan & Chowdhury Mueen Uddin, PW-25 Examination

Today the Tribunal heard matters in the following cases:

  1. Chief Prosecutor vs. Abdul Alim
  2. Chief Prosecutor vs. Ashrafuzzaman Khan & Chowdhury Mueen Uddin

It was the second day of a 48-hour countrywide shut down called by Jamaat-e-Islam. Due to the Hartal, our monitors could not safely travel to the Court to attend proceedings.  The following coverage was compiled from official court records and communication with the parties to the proceedings.

On this day, Mr. Ahsanul Haq Hena, the defense counsel for the accused Abdul Alim concluded his closing submissions before Tribunal 2 of the ICT. This was the fifth day of the Defense submission.  Counsel addressed evidentiary aspects of the remaining charges faced by the Accused. He also made submissions pertaining to the defense claim of alibi. Counsel concluded by declaring that none of the charges had been proven beyond a reasonable doubt by the Prosecution.

Following the conclusion of Defense submissions, the Court announced that Dr. Tureen Afroz would be given limited time on Sunday, 22 September 2013 to briefly address or rebut Defense submissions. The trial can therefore be expected to conclude on Sunday, 22 September 2013, pending final Judgment.

In the case against Ashrafuzzaman Khan & Chowdhury Mueen Uddinm, the Tribunal finished recording the cross-examination of PW-25, Mr. Ataur Rahman, one of the two investigation officers assigned to the case against Mueen and Ashraf. PW-25 was specifically assigned to investigate the involvement of Chowdhury Mueen Uddin. This marked the end of witness testimony, as the IO was the 25th and last prosecution witness of the case. The prosecution is scheduled to begin closing arguments on 23 September 2013.

18 September 2013: ICT-2 Daily Summary – Hartal Coverage of Abdul Alim, Defense Closing Arguments; Ashrafuzzaman Khan & Chowdhury Mueen Uddin, PW-25 Examination

Today the Tribunal heard matters in the following cases:

  1. Chief Prosecutor vs. Abdul Alim
  2. Chief Prosecutor vs. Ashrafuzzaman Khan & Chowdhury Mueen Uddin

This was was the first day of a 48-hour countrywide shut down called by Jamaat-e-Islam. Due to the Hartal, our monitors could not safely travel to the Court to attend proceedings.  The following coverage was compiled from official court records and communication with the parties to the proceedings.

On this day, Mr. Ahsanul Haq Hena, the defense counsel for the accused Abdul Alim continued his closing submissions for the 4th day, before Tribunal 2 of the ICT. Counsel addressed evidentiary aspects of charges 4 through 10 of the indictment against the Accused. The Tribunal requested that Counsel conclude the closing submission the following day.

In the case against Ashrafuzzaman Khan & Chowdhury Mueen Uddinm, the Tribunal continued to record the testimony of PW-25, Mr. Ataur Rahman, one of the two investigation officers of the case against Mueen and Ashraf. PW-25 was specifically assigned to investigate the involvement of Chowdhury Mueen Uddin. The State-appointed defense counsel, Ms. Salma Hye Tuni, commenced the cross-examination of the witness. Cross Examination is scheduled to conclude tomorrow.