Ex-Bangladesh PM formally indicted in graft case

0 Comments | AFP, January, 2008

DHAKA (AFP) — A Bangladesh court on Sunday rejected a defence plea to dismiss graft charges against ex-premier Sheikh Hasina Wajed, accepting police testimony in the case as credible, a state prosecutor said.

A metropolitan sessions judge in Dhaka said police evidence presented in the past month in the case was grounds to continue the trial and formally indict her on corruption charges, state prosecutor Sharfuddin Mukul said.

The judge then ordered the examination of prosecution witnesses to start January 17, Mukul said.

"The judge rejected the defence plea and said there is a prima facie (accepted) case and sufficient materials for framing the charges against her. Sheikh Hasina is now indicted on three charges of extortion," Mukul said.

"Under the...