Former President Ershad gets relef from jail term

Dhaka, Jan 17 (UNI) Former Bangladesh President and Jatiya Party chairman HM Ershad was relieved of a possible jail term today in the Japanese boat purchase scam.

Issuing the order, a district judge said, ''He (Ershad) had already served the prison term in this case.'' Earlier, the former military dictator was barred from contesting the general elections slated for January 22 which is now being postponed, in connection to the corruption case.

Ershad was accused of misappropriating state funds amounting to 33 crore Taka in a deal to purchase 520 boats and 10 water purification machines for relief operation during his regime.

UNI