An appeal has been filed seeking the acquittal of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) president and former Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu from his 10-year prison sentence in a crimes against humanity case.
His lawyer, Sifat Mahmud Shuvo, said the appeal was filed with the relevant section of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Wednesday.
Earlier, an appeal was filed seeking to enhance Inu’s 10-year prison sentence to the death penalty in the same case.
On June 30, the International Crimes Tribunal-2 sentenced Inu to 10 years in prison for crimes against humanity.
The tribunal sentenced him to 10 years’ imprisonment on each of the three charges proved against him. However, it ordered that the sentences would run concurrently, meaning he would serve a total of 10 years in prison.
According to the tribunal’s verdict, charges No. 3, 6 and 7 out of the eight allegations brought against Inu were proved. He was sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment for each of the three charges.
The verdict stated that Inu was found guilty of causing serious injuries to Raisul Haque and other victims, torturing them and persecuting them for political reasons.
He was sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment under the relevant provisions of the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act, 1973.
In another charge, the tribunal sentenced him to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and fined him Tk 100,000 for crimes against humanity involving conspiracy, incitement and aiding and abetting the offences.
Inu was also sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and fined Tk 100,000 for conspiracy and agreement to commit crimes against humanity under another charge.
However, the tribunal acquitted him of charges No. 1, 2, 4, 5 and 8, as the allegations were not proved.
It may be recalled that police arrested Hasanul Haq Inu from Uttara in the capital on August 26, 2024. He is also facing trial before the tribunal in a case related to the Shapla Chattar massacre.