The New Nation - Internet Edition

Court Correspondent

A court of Dhaka yesterday rejected the remand prayer to quiz former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's younger son Arafat Rahman Koko in the GATCO graft case.

Koko was produced Monday before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Court from BSMMU, where he was under treatment, for hearing on the seven-day remand. He was brought to the Court amaidst tight security. Accused Koko was ill and trembling, he was about to fall on the ground. At this stage defence lawyer and security personnels on duty rushed to take care of Koko and he was given a chair to sit.

Defence lawyers vehemently opposed seriously ill Koko's remand and requested the court to reject the bail prayer. Hearing the defence lawyers and the prosecution Metropolitan Magistrate Mizanur Rahman passed his orders to reject the bail petition.

However, he further ordered, if necessary, the Investigation Officer (IO), may interrogate Koko in the jail.

Earlier on October 24, hearing on the remand was not held also due to Koko's illness and the court refixed October 29 for hearing subject to his recovery.

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Deputy Director Johirul Huda, IO of the case, on October 22 submitted the remand prayer to the CMM Court. On September 3 Koko was put on a seven-day remand for interrogation, but he was sent back to jail before the completion of the remand due to his illness.

The ACC filed the graft case on September 2 against 13 persons including detained former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and Koko. Khaleda was questioned in the case on October 11. Six former ministers of her cabinet, bureaucrats and officials of Chittagong Port Authority, Kamalapur ICD yard of Dhaka and Global Agro Private Limited (GATCO) were also questioned.