The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The Supreme Court yesterday stayed High Court-granted bail to convicted Advocate Sigma Huda, wife of jailed former Communications Minister Barrister Nazmul Huda, and Barrister Mir Helal Uddin, son of jailed former State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Mir Nasir Uddin.

Vacation chamber Judge Justice M Joynul Abedin passed the stay orders upon separate leave to appeal petitions by the Government against the High Court orders.

Earlier on December 13, a High Court Division Bench upon separate writ petitions granted bail to the two convicts-Sigma Huda and Mir Helal-who were tried and punished by a Special Court under the Emergency Power Rules (EPR). This was the first instance of giving bail to any of the high-profile convicted persons being tried under the ongoing drive against serious crime and corruption.

On August 27, the Special Court, trying the corruption suspects, sentenced Sigma Huda to three years imprisonment for aiding and abetting her husband in a graft case, while her husband to seven years rigorous imprisonment in the case.

Earlier, on July 4, another Special Court convicted Mir Helal for three years for helping his father in protecting their 'illegally' amassed property, while his father was sentenced to 13 years in jail in the graft case.