Hasina cleared of graft in frigate purchase
By IANSTuesday, May 18, 2010
DHAKA - The High Court Tuesday quashed all proceedings against Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was accused of corruption in the purchase of a naval frigate during her 1996-2001 tenure.
The case was instituted by the government of her political rival, Begum Khaleda Zia, in 2002.
The Hasina government was charged with purchasing the ship at a cost of $105 million, incurring in the process a loss of $64.4 million to the exchequer.
A bench of Justices Shamsul Huda and Abu Bakar Siddiqui Tuesday delivered its verdict after Hasina challenged the proceedings against her.
With this, Hasina stands exonerated in eight cases since she took office in January last year, Star Online, the website of The Daily Star, said.
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