Arms case: complainant testifies against Papia, her husband

Md Shafiqul Islam, former deputy assistant director of Rab-1 and the complainant of the arms case against expelled leader of Jubo Mohila League Shamima Nur Papia and her husband Mofizur Rahman, today gave his deposition before a Dhaka tribunal.

Judge KM Emrul Kayesh of Special Tribunal-1 of Dhaka recorded the witness's statement. Later, the witness was cross-examined on behalf of the accused.

Before that, defence lawyers completed cross-examination of Sub-Inspector of Rab-1 Saiful Islam, who prepared a seizure-list of the arms case. Saiful gave his deposition before the tribunal yesterday.

The judge has fixed tomorrow for next hearing of the case.

In his statement, Shafiqul told the court that upon being informed from a reliable source, he and his forces arrested Papia and her husband -- a former Chhatra League leader -- and their two accomplices from Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on February 22 when they were trying to leave the country.

The following morning, he, along with his team, raided Papia's house on Indira Road, Farmgate, and recovered a foreign pistol, two magazines, 20 bullets, five bottles of foreign liquor, Tk 58,41,000 cash, and credit and debit cards of different banks.

Later SI Saiful prepared a seizure list in front of the witnesses, Shafiqul added.

On February 24, he filed the arms case against the couple with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station.

During their arrest, Rab members recovered seven passports, Tk 2,12,270, fake notes worth Tk 25,600, $11,481, 420 Sri Lankan rupees, 301 Indian rupees, and two debit cards from their possession.

Earlier on August 23, the same tribunal framed charges against the couple in the case.

On June 29, Sub-Inspector Arifuzzaman at Rab, also the investigation officer (IO) of the case, submitted the charge sheet against the couple to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court of Dhaka.

Three cases were filed against the couple with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station under the Arms and the Special Powers Acts, while another case was lodged with Biman Bandar Police Station under the Special Powers Act.

Another case was filed against the four -- the couple and their two accomplices -- with Gulshan Police Station under the Money Laundering Prevention Act.

On August 4, the Anti-Corruption Commission lodged a case against Papia and her husband for amassing about Tk 6.24 crore illegally.