Staff Correspondent:

The International Crimes Tribunal has indicated that former inspector general of police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun may be granted clemency, provided he fully reveals the truth about his own involvement and the crimes committed by the principal and co-accused in the July-August killings.

This was outlined in a two-page written order issued by the three-member tribunal chaired by Justice Golam Mortuza Majumder on Saturday (July 12).

The order noted that Mamun’s lawyer has applied for clemency on the basis of his client’s role as the state’s witness. However, the tribunal said such clemency will only be considered if Mamun discloses all pertinent information he holds regarding the offences of the main and assisting accused.

Earlier on Thursday (July 10), Mamun accepted responsibility for his role in the atrocities and formally became a state witness in the case against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Addressing the judges, he expressed his intention to provide detailed accounts of those involved in the killings.

Following this, the tribunal ordered the commencement of trials against Sheikh Hasina, Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, and Abdullah Al Mamun.

Due to his status as a state witness, Mamun has been placed in a separate cell while in custody.

WHAT THE WRITTEN ORDER SAYS

The charges after being framed were read over and explained to the accused Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun and then he was asked as to whether he would plead guilty or not guilty whereto he pleaded guilty and stated that he intends to make a full and true disclosure of the whole of the circumstances within his knowledge relative to the alleged offences and to every other person concerned, either as principal or abettor, in the commission thereof.

The learned counsel for the said accused urged for a tender of pardon to the accused by filing a petition.

The learned chief prosecutor concurred to the tender of pardon to the accused on condition of his making a full and true disclosure of the circumstances as aforesaid since such disclosure would be conducive to the trial of the alleged offences.

Under the facts and circumstances the Tribunal deems it condign to tender pardon to accused Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun as besought and accordingly pardon has been tendered to him on condition that he will make a full and true disclosure of the whole of the circumstances within his knowledge relative to the alleged offences and to every other person concerned, either as principal or abettor, in the commission thereof and he accepted the pardon subject to such condition and as such the Tribunal shall call him for being examined as witness in the trial at a convenient date.

Since the aforesaid accused Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun has been tendered pardon and he accepted the same he is necessitated to be segregated from other prisoners whereupon the concerned jail authority be directed to detain accused Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun aloof from the other prisoners for sake of his safety and security.