Detained former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina told a court on Monday that a graft charge against her over a power plant deal was politically motivated, her lawyer said. The Anti-Corruption Commission has accused Hasina of accepting 30 million taka ($440,000) in kickbacks in a power plant deal during her 1996-2001 term. The graft hearing has been delayed on several occasions due to the former prime minister's ill health, but a frail looking Hasina appeared in court on Monday and denied the charges. “The chargers are false and politically motivated,” a defense lawyer quoted Hasina as telling the court. Hasina's close relatives and some senior leaders of her Awami League party were present during the hearing, held under tight security in a special court set up at the parliament building. “After hearing both the prosecution and defense lawyers the court has deferred the session until Thursday,” a court official said. Hasina also faces another graft charge for allegedly extorting more than $400,000 from a businessman when she was in power between 1996 and 2001. Bangladesh's military-backed interim government has detained more than 170 top political figures including Hasina's rival and former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia in a crackdown on corruption. The interim authority took charge in January last year following deadly political violence. It pledges to hold a free and fair election before the end of this year. Head of the government Fakhruddin Ahmed said on Monday the election would be held on time, despite doubts expressed by the political parties of Hasina and Khaleda. Hasina's lawyers on Monday said she had expressed doubts over holding the parliamentary vote this year according to a roadmap announced by the Election Commission last year. __
