ACC starts action against 448 self-confessed corrupt people
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has launched action against all the 448 people who were exempted by now defunct Truth and Accountability Commission (Tac) for confessing their involvement in corruption and surrendering the ill-gotten wealth.
In its routine monthly meeting with the media, ACC Director General (admin and establishment) Farrukh Ahmed briefed journalists on the decision at its headquarters yesterday.
About 270 of the total self-confessed corrupt were accused in corruption cases filed by the ACC at the time when they sought clemency from Tac, halting the proceedings of all the cases against them midway.
Former chief engineer of Sylhet City Corporation Saiful Islam and his wife Rozina Sultana Rimi, a self-confessed corrupt couple exempted by Tac, had their case stalled just ahead of submission of charge sheet.
On September 13, the ACC pressed charges against the couple accusing them of amassing wealth worth Tk 17.04 crore and concealing information of wealth worth Tk 5.80 crore.
“The ACC cases stalled midway would be dealt with priority as the number of self-confessed corrupt is very big”, said ACC Chairman Ghulam Rahman. “We, however, would examine all the cases and initiate legal proceedings thereby”.
The Supreme Court in May announced the Truth and Accountability Commission illegal, paving the way for the ACC to revive the cases.
Replying to a question, the ACC DG said Tarique Rahman and Arafat Rahman Koko, sons of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, might be questioned if investigation finds their complicity in abusing power to establish Zia charitable trust.
The ACC is currently investigating the case it filed in early August this year. Besides Khaleda Zia, Tarique and Koko are also trustees of the trust.
Meanwhile, the commission selected 123 allegations out of total 645 submitted in August this year for preliminary enquiry. The commission approved filing of 49 cases against 94 people in the same month on charge of amassing wealth from beyond known sources of income and concealing information about their wealth.
The commission also approved submitting charge sheet against 93 people in 47 cases during the same period.
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