No witnesses appear in Benazir Ahmed graft case, hearing deferred to October 18
No witnesses appear in Benazir Ahmed’s graft case, prompting a Dhaka court to defer the scheduled testimony until October 18. The hearing was set to take
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Benazir Ahmed Graft Case Hearing Deferred to October 18
Thebangladaily.com – No witnesses appear in Benazir Ahmed’s graft case, prompting a Dhaka court to defer the scheduled testimony until October 18. The hearing was set to take place on Sunday before Judge Abdullah Al Mamun of Dhaka Special Judge Court-5.
The case concerns allegations that former Inspector General of Police Benazir Ahmed acquired wealth beyond his known and lawful sources of income. The Anti-Corruption Commission alleges that the value of the unexplained assets stands at Tk 11.04 crore.
Witness Absence Delays Evidence
ACC prosecutor Mir Ahmed Ali Salam said the hearing could not proceed because no prosecution witnesses attended court. This was not the first delay linked to witness absence, as witnesses also did not testify on August 17 and September 10.
The prosecution has named 28 witnesses in the case. So far, 15 have given testimony, while 13 witnesses remain to be examined. Their attendance is necessary for the prosecution to complete the evidence stage of the trial.
No witnesses appear in Benazir Ahmed’s case at the latest hearing, leaving the court unable to record further evidence. The next hearing will determine whether the remaining witnesses can be examined and whether the trial can move ahead.
ACC Allegations Over Assets and Income
ACC Deputy Director Hafizul Islam filed the case on December 15, 2024. The complaint alleged that Benazir had accumulated Tk 11.04 crore in wealth that could not be reconciled with his known income.
According to the case details, Benazir declared immovable property worth Tk 6.45 crore and movable assets valued at Tk 5.74 crore in his wealth statement. Investigators later identified immovable assets worth Tk 7.52 crore and movable assets worth Tk 8.15 crore.
The assets identified during the inquiry were valued at around Tk 15.68 crore in total. The ACC assessed his legitimate income at Tk 6.59 crore and calculated net savings of Tk 4.63 crore after expenditure.
Based on those calculations, the commission alleged that Tk 11.04 crore in assets had been acquired outside his known sources of income. The allegations remain subject to judicial examination during the ongoing trial.
Charge Sheet Includes Money Laundering Claims
After its investigation, the ACC submitted a charge sheet on November 30 last year. It accused Benazir of possessing unexplained wealth, concealing property information and money laundering.
The charge sheet alleges that the source, nature and ownership of disputed funds were concealed through investments, transfers and conversions involving bank accounts, business entities and joint-stock companies.
The court accepted the charge sheet on March 8 and issued an arrest warrant for Benazir. Charges were framed on May 3, formally opening the trial process.
Allegations contained in a charge sheet do not establish guilt. The prosecution must prove its claims through evidence, while the accused has the right to challenge the allegations in court.
What Happens at the Next Hearing?
At the October 18 hearing, the court is expected to consider prosecution evidence if the remaining witnesses attend. Continued witness testimony could help bring the prosecution phase closer to completion.
If witnesses again fail to attend, the case may face another delay. No witnesses appear in Benazir Ahmed’s case has become a key issue because testimony is essential to testing the ACC’s financial allegations before the court.
FAQ: Benazir Ahmed Graft Case
Why was the hearing deferred? The hearing was postponed because no prosecution witnesses appeared before the court to provide testimony.
When is the next hearing? The next date for evidence in the case has been fixed for October 18.
How many witnesses remain? Thirteen of the 28 listed prosecution witnesses have yet to testify.
What is Benazir Ahmed accused of? The ACC alleges that he acquired Tk 11.04 crore in unexplained assets and concealed information linked to property and financial transactions.
