Dhaka: Hearing in the crimes against humanity case against nine alleged war criminals including former Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker Mawlana Sakhawat Hossain on Thursday came to an end with the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1 ordering that it would pronounce the judgement on any day.

‘The hearing just ended today. We are now keeping the verdict on CAV (curia advisory vault, a Lating legal term meaning the court awaits verdict),’ said Justice Anwarul Haque, chairman of the three-member panel of the ICT-1.

The tribunal passed the order as the defence concluded their part of arguments, followed by prosecution rebuttal.

The other eight accused are Billal Hossain, Lutfor Morol, Md Ibrahim Hossain, Sheikh Md Mujibur Rahman, Md Abdul Aziz Sarder, Qazi Ohidul Islam alias Wahidur Salam, Md Aziz Sarder and Abdul Khalek Morol.  

Of these, Lutfor died of cardiac arrest in police custody on May 6, 2016.

Prosecutor Rezia Sultana Chaman concluded her part on July 12. Though defence counsel Abdus Sattar Palowan started submitting his arguments on that day, he failed to wrap up and continued till today. Senior prosecutor Zead al-Malum placed rebuttal after defence arguments.

A total of 17 prosecution witnesses including investigation officer Abdur Razzak Khan testified against the accused.

The first tribunal on December 23, 2015, indicted the accused framing five charges of crimes against humanity.