The decision is the most recent judicial victory for former prime minister who was launched from home arrest within the wake of Sheikh Hasina’s ouster in August.
Bangladesh’s Supreme Courtroom has acquitted ex-Prime Minister Khaleda Zia in a 2008 corruption case, overturning a earlier 10-year jail sentence.
In 2018, the nation’s Excessive Courtroom had convicted Zia and others of misappropriating funds meant for orphans when she was final prime minister, from 2001 to 2006.
However following an attraction, a five-judge panel led by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed on Wednesday acquitted Zia and all different defendants within the case, together with her son and Bangladesh Nationalist Celebration (BNP) performing chairperson Tarique Rahman.
“The case was so vile that each those that appealed and people who couldn’t attraction have all been acquitted,” defence lawyer Zainul Abedin instructed the press after the decision.
The decision is the most recent judicial victory for 79-year-old Zia and her household from the BNP, one in every of two essential teams which have dominated the nation’s politics.
Final November, Zia was additionally acquitted in one other corruption case through which she had been accused of misappropriation of 31.5 million taka ($260,000) from one other belief in 2005.
Earlier this month, she was flown to London to deal with her well being points together with liver cirrhosis and coronary heart issues.
Since August, Bangladesh has been dominated by an interim authorities led by Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus, after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled to India following mass protests towards her rule.
Hasina’s toppling prompted the discharge of Zia from home arrest later in August. The previous prime minister had suspended Zia’s jail time period on well being grounds in 2020, below the situation that her longtime rival chorus from travelling overseas and taking part in politics.
The BNP at all times maintained that the costs had been politically motivated, accusing Hasina’s then-government of concentrating on Zia for political causes.
On Wednesday, Zia’s authorized staff expressed optimism that the Supreme Courtroom’s ruling may pave the way in which for her to run within the subsequent parliamentary elections, anticipated to be held late this 12 months or early 2026.
Final month, a excessive courtroom additionally acquitted Rahman and others of a 2004 grenade assault on a rally of Hasina.
