Bangladesh
Niko Graft Case Two Canadian policemen testify against eight people including Khaleda in Niko graft case
Own Correspondent, Dhaka, 30 October 2023: Canada and Royal Canadian Mounted Police members Cabin Duggan and Lloyd Schwepp testified against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and eight others in the Niko corruption case. Earlier on Monday morning, they appeared in the court of Judge Sheikh Hafizur Rahman of Dhaka Central Jail No. 9 (Temporary) Special Judge Court of Dhaka.
On Thursday (October 19), Judge Sheikh Hafizur Rahman of Dhaka Central Jail No. 9 (Temporary) Judge Sheikh Hafizur Rahman came to their court on October 30 and issued the summons to them to testify. On this day, the day of questioning of the then Assistant Director of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Muhammad Mahbubul Alam was scheduled. Khaleda's lawyer appeared on behalf of Zia. Then Khaleda Zia and other defendants were interrogated by their lawyers. As the interrogation ended, the court fixed October 30 for the next hearing.
On September 17, the court allowed one person from the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and two from the Canadian Royal Mounted Police to testify against eight people including Khaleda Zia. They are Debra LaPeribott Griffith, a retired supervisory special agent of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation, Canadian and Royal Canadian Mounted Police member Kevin Duggan and Lloyd Schwepp. Khaleda Zia's lawyers Zia Uddin Zia and Hannan Bhuia confirmed the matter.
On December 9, 2007, the then Assistant Director of ACC Muhammad Mahbubul Alam filed a case against Khaleda Zia and five people at Tejgaon Police Station. The case was filed on charges of corruption and financial damage to the state through an opaque contract with the Canadian company Niko.
Then on May 5, 2018, a charge sheet was filed against 11 people including Khaleda Zia. They were accused of causing financial loss of about 13 thousand 777 crores to the state. On March 19, 2023, Judge Sheikh Hafizur Rahman of the No. 9 (Temporary) Special Judge Court of Dhaka, located in the Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj, framed this charge against the accused.
