DHAKA: The High court on Tuesday (May 9) has acquitted former President and Jatiya Party (JP) chairman HM Ershad of corruption charge canceling a lower court verdict that sentenced him three years’ jail.

An HC bench comprising Justices Mohammad Ruhul Kuddus and Bhishmadev Chakrabortty passed the order after reviewing appeals from Ershad and the state.

In 1992, the then Bureau of Anti-Corruption (BAC), later became obsolete after Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) formed in 2004, filed the case against Ershad with the cantonment thana for misappropriating Tk 1.91 crore while he was president during 1983 to 1990.

On February 3, 1992, A Dhaka divisional judge court has sentenced three years jail to Ershad. Later Ershad filed a petition against the verdict in High Court.

On 26 June in 2012, An HC bench granted ACC to be a party in the case as a co-appellant.

On April 12 in 2017, the HC concluded hearing on the appeals and fixed May 9 (today) for delivering the verdict.

BDST: 1730 HRS, May 9, 2017
AP/SMS