Koko freed for 2 months

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Arafat Rahman Koko, younger son of detained BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, was released for two months on an executive order from the government yesterday.

In a wheelchair, he was brought out of the prison cell at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) at around 6:00pm and carried straight to his cantonment residence by an ambulance.

The same day the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) pressed charges against him of amassing wealth illegally and concealing information in his assets statement.

Earlier in the day, a Dhaka court exempted him from appearing in person before it during trial of the case.

Koko stands accused in two more cases–one for extortion and the other for graft in Gatco deal. He has already been excused from being present in court in the Gatco case while the High Court has stayed the extortion case proceedings.

Meanwhile, family sources last night told The Daily Star that Koko, along with his wife, two daughters and a brother-in-law, will fly to Bangkok tomorrow for treatment.

He will possibly be admitted to the Bumrungrad International Hospital, they added.

Koko reunited with his wife and daughters at their Shaheed Moinul Road residence in Dhaka cantonment. A doctor and a nurse were there to look after him.

The sources also said they expect Tarique Rahman, the former prime minister’s elder son, too would be released by Monday.

Koko, along with his mother, was arrested on September 3 last year from their house.

Talking to The Daily Star yesterday, Inspector General of Prisons Brig Gen Zakir Hassan said, “The government has granted Koko temporary release on condition that the order can be cancelled anytime without any explanation.”

“He was released mainly for treatment in Thailand,” he said, adding that the conditions attached to his release are like the ones followed in Awami League (AL) chief Sheikh Hasina’s case.

A handout of the Press Information Department (PID) said that Koko has been released for two months on a number of conditions.

If he goes abroad for treatment, he or his relatives will have to report to the Bangladesh mission concerned on his health situation every three days.

He will not be allowed to engage in any political or business activities, and he must not communicate with any agency or person for any reasons other than treatment, the handout read.

Besides, if the treatment is complete before the term of his release ends, he will contact the government and surrender before a court on return home.

According to the handout, the government might cut short the release for breach of any of the conditions. It can also cancel the order at any moment without giving any reason.

As the news of Koko’s release spread, several hundred leaders and workers of BNP and its front organisations gathered on the BSMMU premises. BNP chairperson’s adviser Brig Gen (retd) ASM Hannan Shah, Joint Secretary General Nazrul Islam Khan and Office Secretary Rizvi Ahmed, were among those.

In his reaction, Hannan Shah told reporters, “Though late, we are happy that the government has released Koko for treatment abroad.”

Calling for immediate release of Tarique for overseas treatment, he said, “Democracy would be restored if Khaleda Zia and Tarique are released.”

A large contingent of police was deployed in the hospital area to avert anything untoward.

CHARGE SHEET AGAINST KOKO
At around 6:00pm, ACC Deputy Director Abu Sayeed submitted charge sheet to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court in Dhaka in the case filed against Koko for making wealth beyond his known sources of income and concealing assets information.

He showed 31 people as prosecution witnesses, reports our court correspondent.

This is the second time that the anti-graft body has pressed charges against Koko. Earlier, it charged him in the Gatco graft case.

Sayeed, also the investigation officer, said Koko should be on trial since the charges against him have been proved primarily.

On April 23 this year, the ACC filed the case against him with Ramna Police Station for amassing wealth worth Tk 2.23 crore through illegal means and keeping back information on assets worth around Tk 11.20 lakh.

According to the case statement, Koko in his wealth statement to the ACC showed that he, his wife and two daughters own movable and immovable property worth around Tk 8.08 crore.

However, an ACC investigation found that the assets belonging to the family are worth more than the declared amount.

It also gathered that Koko concealed information about a flat at Banani, loans from banks and remuneration and other benefits that he might have received from different businesses.

He also held back information about 500 shares (Tk 100 each) he has in a business firm named Hasanco Aviation Ltd and two bank savings certificates (Tk 1 lakh each) under his wife’s name.

His wife’s investment of Tk 1.50 crore in a business and his expenses for 84 overseas trips between September 2003 and December 2006 did not match the couple’s stated sources of income.

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