Bangladesh supreme court hears jailed ex-military ruler's appeal

The hearing in the country's highest appeal court was being held two days after the deposed army ruler was sent by the country's high court to the maximum security Dhaka Central Jail to serve the five-year jail.

The High Court last August also fined Ershad, 70, one million dollars for owning property, including a multi-storeyed office complex, the value of which was found incompatible with his known sources of income.

Ershad was stripped of his parliamentary seat after the High Court conviction under the country's constitutional laws. The High Court also fined 17 other co-accused including Ershad's wife Raushan.

Ershad, as army chief, came to power in a 1982 coup and ruled the country with an iron fist for more than eight years before he was overthrown amidst civilian protests.

Ershad was also imprisoned immediately after his army backed regime was toppled in December 1990. He was released six years later on a court bail.

After coming out of prison in 1996 Ershad took up the leadership of his own Jatiyo Party and became elected as a parliament member from his home town Rangpur in northern Bangladesh.

Ershad recently joined an opposition alliance which is campaigning for the immediate resignation of the ruling Awami League government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina followed by early general election.

(la/dpa)