Former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun became an approver to "protect himself" by concealing his own crimes and putting the blame on others, Amir Hossain, the state-appointed defence counsel for deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina and ex-home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, told the International Crimes Tribunal-1 yesterday.
He made the remarks while placing his concluding arguments for the third consecutive day in a case filed against Hasina, Kamal, and Mamun over crimes against humanity committed during the July uprising.
While briefing journalists, Prosecutor Mizanul Islam said the tribunal may set the date for delivering its verdict in the case today after the prosecution present counter arguments against the defence counsel.
During yesterday's hearing, the defence counsel also questioned the procedure through which Mamun's confessional statement was recorded by Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, alleging it was not done properly.
In July, ex-IGP Mamun pleaded guilty in the case and offered to be a state approver, which was approved by the tribunal. He also made a confessional statement before a magistrate.
As the tribunal asked for his view regarding Amir's remarks that Mamun became an approver in this case to save himself, the former IGP's lawyer Jaiad Bin Amjad said, "My client made a true and full disclosure regarding this incident when he gave his deposition."
Amjad said neither the prosecution nor the defence could discredit it or present anything significant. His client's deposition corroborates the testimonies of the other witnesses in the case, he added.
Tribunal member Justice Shofiul Alam Mahmood noted that Mamun's pattern of making statements was carefully and consciously, with the intention of protecting himself.
Lawyer Amjad outright rejected it and said his clients did say anything to save himself, rather he disclosed all information fully that required for the trial of the case. "Not only that he also presented crucial information about the historic case of enforced disappearances trial of which is going to begin."
Regarding the deposition of witness Nahid Islam, a key leader of July uprising, Amir said Nahid stated that he called Prof Muhammad Yunus and requested him to form the government on July 4.
The defence counsel said he consider this as a conspiracy, raising question, "How did Nahid know that on the August 5 the [Awami] government would resign?"
The tribunal responded that since their movement had turned into a one-point demand to oust the government, they had to prepare.
Amir replied, "This was part of a meticulous design."
Regarding the testimony of Mahmudur Rahman, editor of daily Amar Desh, Amir said, "My argument is that he is an opponent of Sheikh Hasina. He disliked her rule and doesn't like anything about her. Whether such statements, made out of anger, should be accepted or not is, I believe, up to the tribunal."
Pointing to the statement of a witness who claimed that Hasina, during a visit to Pongu Hospital, ordered that no wounded July uprising victims be released or treated, Amir said that only one witness made this claim, no one else, not even any doctor or nurse, corroborated it. He added that even the media did not carry any such report.
Amir said, "I believe that the charges brought against my clients are not sufficient for them to be punished under the charges. Since the prosecution could not prove the charges, my clients should be acquitted with honour."