AS VERDICT IN TRIAL NEARS, SIGMA HUDA'S HEALTH

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 001379

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/20/2017
TAGS: PHUM PGOV KGOV KDEM BG
SUBJECT: AS VERDICT IN TRIAL NEARS, SIGMA HUDA'S HEALTH
STILL IN QUESTION

REF: A. DHAKA 1155


B. DHAKA 1295

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a.i. Geeta Pasi; reasons 1.4(d)


1. (SBU) SUMMARY. Sigma Huda's sister Khushi Kabir discussed
Sigma's medical condition with POLOFF. Kabir said Sigma's
health was not good, but that the jail authorities had moved
her to the hospital for better care. Nevertheless, if the
government continues to drag its feet in authorizing payment
for Sigma's medical tests, doctors may recommend Sigma be
transferred back to the jail. END SUMMARY.


2. (SBU) Khushi Kabir, the head of a Bangladeshi
non-government organization and the sister of United Nations
Anti-Trafficking Special Rapporteur Sigma Huda, met POLOFF on
August 15 to discuss Sigma's medical condition. Sigma, along
with her husband, former Communications Minister Nazmul Huda,
are currently on trial facing corruption charges. (Reftel A)

SIGMA'S HEALTH "POOR"
=====================


3. (C) According to Kabir, Sigma's health is "poor." She has
suffered for years from heart ailments and diabetes, and was
scheduled to undergo tests in Singapore when she was charged
in the current corruption case and prohibited from leaving
the country. Kabir provided POLOFF with copies of Sigma's
medical records from the past three years that clearly showed
a history of heart, kidney and other ailments. (NOTE: This
runs counter to the Home Secretary's claim to CDA that he had
been informed Sigma was "walking around" and appeared fine
when they came to arrest her -- the implication being she was
making up her health problems to garner public sympathy.
Reftel B)

TRANSFERRED TO HOSPITAL...
==========================


4. (SBU) Kabir said Sigma was transferred from the Dhaka
Central Jail to the Bangabondhu Sheikh Mujib Medical Hospital
on August 4. While this was a positive step, she said the
jail authorities have not provided the required letter
authorizing payment for the necessary medical tests. Without
that authorization, or permission from the authorities to let
the family pay the costs, the doctors cannot perform the
complicated heart tests Sigma regularly requires. Other
high-profile arrestees have been transferred to the Ibrahim
Cardiac Center adjacent to the Hospital, and the family does
not understand why Sigma cannot be treated there as well.

BUT DENIED PROPER TESTS
=======================


5. (SBU) If they cannot do the tests, the doctors will
recommend transferring Sigma back to the Central Jail. The
family is readying an appeal to the High Court compelling the
government to authorize the tests, though they are waiting a
few days to see if the jail authorities take any action.
(NOTE: The following day, Kabir told POLOFF that the hospital
had begun conducting some of the required tests, but that
there were still delays for the more complicated heart tests
because the doctors lacked proper authorization.)


6. (SBU) Apart from Sigma's health, Khushi said she has "no
objections" to Sigma's treatment in jail. Shortly after she
was jailed in early July, the court granted Sigma "division"
-- essentially, a form of VIP status that entitles one to
more comfortable accommodation in jail. Sigma has been able
to meet with family, though the procedure for arranging such
visits can be complicated and require negotiation with jail
officials.

KERFUFFLE OVER SMUGGLED CELLPHONE
=================================


7. (SBU) In another twist in this case, the Deputy Inspector
General of Prisons Shamshul Haider Siddiqui announced
publicly on August 20 that jail authorities had suspended
four female jail guards for having helped Sigma smuggle and
maintain a cellphone in her cell, contrary to prison
regulations. According to Siddiqui, Sigma was caught
"red-handed" with the phone in her cell room at the hospital
on August 17. Siddiqui claimed Sigma had bribed some of the
guards into helping her, and that other guards who were not

DHAKA 00001379 002 OF 002


given their share of the bribes turned them in. (NOTE: When
contacted by POLOFF, Sigma's sister Kabir said the first she
had heard of the cellphone episode was from the newspaper,
but that she doubted the allegation.)

VERDICT SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST 23
===============================


8. (C) The judge in the corruption trial against Sigma and
her husband is scheduled to announce his verdict on August

23. Kabir did not want to discuss the case against Sigma,
saying only that she believes "personally" that Sigma is
innocent. Regarding Sigma's husband Nazmul, Kabir would only
say she had many disagreements with her brother-in-law and
did not want to speak of him. She did add, however, that
when she observed the proceedings in the Special
Anti-Corruption Court, she noted "several military men in
normal clothes" throughout the courtroom, including one who
was "whispering frequently to the judge." She said this did
not seem fair or appropriate.


9. (SBU) The Embassy is monitoring the ongoing
anti-corruption cases closely. The Embassy continues to
raise our concerns regarding due process and proper medical
treatment with the Home Ministry and other government
representatives. On August 21, CDA raised the issue of Huda's
medical condition with a senior aide to the Chief Advisor,
who agreed to look into the matter.
PASI