The Supreme Court (SC) on Sunday stayed the High Court order that acquitted Ishaque Ali, one of the five convicts in the case lodged over the murder of Japanese citizen Kunio Hoshi in 2015.

Justice M Enayetur Rahim of the Appellate Division Chamber Judge Court passed the order in response to an appeal filed by the state.

Additional Attorney General Sheikh Mohammad Morshed argued for the state in the hearing, while Advocate Ahsan Ullah stood for the convict Eshak Ali.

The state on September 22 filed the appeal against the High Court judgment.

A High Court bench comprising Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman and Justice S M Masud Hossain Dolon on September 21 pronounced its judgment on the death reference and appeals of the convicts in the case.

It confirmed the death sentences of four JMB militants- Masud Rana alias Mamun alias Montri, Liton Mia alias Rafik, Ahsan Ullah Ansari alias Biplob and Shakhawat Hossain and acquitted Eshak Ali of the charges.

Rangpur Special Judge Court on February 28, 2017, had sentenced five members of banned militant outfit Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) to death in the case.

JMB militants shot Kunio Hoshi to death on October 3, 2015, in Alutari area under Kaunia upazila in Rangpur.

BDST: 1828 HRS, SEP 25, 2022
MSK/SMS