She earlier prayed to the apex court to scrap her 10-year sentence

TDS Desk:

The Supreme Court on Monday stayed the High Court verdict that doubled BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s five-year jail term in Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case.

The Appellate Division of the apex court also allowed Khaleda Zia to move an appeal before the court challenging the HC verdict.

A three-member bench of the Appellate Division, headed by Justice Md Ashfaqul Islam, passed the order after holding hearing on two separate leave to appeal petitions filed by Khaleda against the HC judgment.

Khaleda, also former prime minister, filed the leave to appeal petitions with the Appellate Division on 14 March, 2019 through his lawyer challenging the HC verdict.

In the petitions, she prayed to the apex court to scrap her 10-year sentence.

Khaleda landed in jail on 8 February, 2018, after a special court in Dhaka sentenced her to five years in jail in connection with the case.

Subsequently, a petition was filed by the ACC, following which the HC on 30 October increased the punishment to 10 years’ imprisonment.