Case against Koko to be conducted in absentia
Says attorney general
The attorney general yesterday said the money-laundering case against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's younger son Arafat Rahman Koko will be conducted in absentia as per law if he does not appear before the court within November 30.
"Police will submit a report before the court as per its directive on November 30. Then a gazette will be issued on Koko's absentia based on the report if he does not appear before the court," Attorney General Mahbubey Alam told a press briefing at his office.
Though the case is ready to be conducted in the court it is stalled for Koko's absence, he said, adding, a gazette has already been published against another accused Ismail Hossain Saimon declaring him an absconder.
Mahbubey Alam organised the briefing to clear his stance following criticism by some BNP leaders for his submission before a Dhaka court that issued arrest warrant against Koko on October 31.
"As the attorney general I can make submission before any court in the country as the constitution provides me the authority," he said.
"I made submission before the Dhaka court as it's an issue of national interest and I conducted the petition with the Supreme Court that had stayed for six weeks a High Court order extending Koko's parole for 20 days," he added.
The Dhaka court that day issued arrest warrant against Koko and directed the police to report by November 30 on its execution.
The Anti-Corruption Commission filed the case against Koko and Saimon, son of former shipping minister Akbar Hossain, on March 17 last year. The case statement says the accused laundered money they received from China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd and Siemens for helping them win government contracts.
Arrested in September 2007 on graft charges, Koko was paroled for treatment abroad in July the following year and is now in Bangkok. On October 13, the SC stayed for six weeks an HC order extending Koko's parole for 20 days.
Meanwhile, Koko's lawyer AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon reacted sharply against the attorney general's statement that he can speak before any court in the country.
"He [attorney general] can appear before any court but cannot make submission," Khokon said, claiming that the attorney general made submission before the Dhaka court to implement the government's intention of issuing arrest warrant against Koko.
Briefing reporters at the office of Supreme Court Bar Association' president, Khokon claimed the Dhaka court's arrest warrant was the result of attorney general's submission before it.
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