Judge SM Mojibur Rahman of the First Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court adjourned the delivery of verdict.

The same court adjourned the hearing of the gold smuggling case filed against the deposed president following a time petition by the prosecution lawyer.

The judge said he could not complete preparing the judgment of the graft case and fixed the next date to deliver the verdict.

During the hearing, Ershad along with his party leaders, activists and lawyers was present in the court.

Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) Golam Mostafa Khan submitted a petition seeking time for adjournment of the gold smuggling case, as witnesses did not appear before the court yesterday.

Moving the petition, the APP told the court that three witnesses including the complainant of the case had earlier appeared before the court and gave their statements. But as vital witnesses, including the investigation officer (IO) of the case, were yet to appear for giving their statements, he prayed for adjournment of the hearing of the case, the APP added.

On the hearing from the prosecution and the defence, the judge fixed September 20 for next hearing of the gold smuggling case and issued non-bailable arrest warrant against six witnesses, including the IO of the case, to have them appear before the court on the next scheduled date.

The trial of the plot-allotment case began in 1998. The court completed its hearing on August 13 and fixed yesterday for delivering the verdict.

The court framed charges against Ershad and acquitted the then Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) chairman Rahamat Ullah on March 9, 1992 as no conclusive evidence was found against him.

Ershad was acquitted in three graft cases last week while a negotiation is going on about his joining the ruling BNP-led alliance ahead of the next parliamentary election.

PLOT ALLOTMENT CASE
Mohammad Sajjad Hossain, an official of the now-defunct Bureau of Anti-Corruption, filed the case against Ershad with the Motijheel Police Station on April 22, 1991.

The investigation officer (IO) of the case pressed charges against Ershad and Rahamat Ullah on December 9 the same year.

The then president Ershad directed authorities concerned to allot plots in Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara and Uttara residential areas to 49 people during 1988-1990, violating the government and Rajuk provisions, said the prosecution.

The court has so far recorded statements of only four prosecution witnesses although the trial began on April 23, 1998.

The court could not complete arguments of the case as the prosecution and the defence had sought time on different excuses since August 2002.

GOLD SMUGGLING CASE
On August 13, the same court adjourned the hearing of the gold smuggling case against Ershad until August 27 following a time petition from the prosecution.

A team of customs officials held four persons including two foreign nationals at Zia International Airport (ZIA) on July 17, 1990 when they were attempting to smuggle 3,000 tola gold worth around Tk 2.5 crore into Bangladesh, the prosecution said.

A smuggling case was filed against the four -- Bernhard Rudiger of Germany, David Anthony Chalmar Chaker of England, the then manager of ZIA Major (rtd) Ashraf Uddin Sekender and security guard of ZIA Abu Taher -- with the Cantonment Police Station the same day.

During the investigation, the IO found evidence of Ershad's involvement in the smuggling and his name was included in the charge sheet.

Rudiger, Chalmar Chaker, Ashraf and Taher were convicted and sent to prison on different terms on May 14, 1992.

The trial against Ershad did not start due to a stay order from the higher court.