Bangladesh News

A special court yesterday framed charges against Arafat Rahman Koko in a corruption case filed for accumulating wealth illegally and hiding information about his property from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

This is the first time charges have been framed against Koko. He was released on two months’ parole on July 17 to facilitate his treatment abroad.

Judge M Sirajul Islam of Special Court 7, set up at Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban complex, fixed August 13 for cross-examination of witnesses to begin.

Koko’s counsel Taherul Islam Tawhid termed the charge-framing illegal as he said it was done in the absence of the defendant’s appointed lawyer, Sanaullah Mia.

He said they had appealed for a three-week hiatus in charge-framing hearing because of advocate Sanaullah’s illness.

Prosecution lawyer Mosharraf Hossain Kajol read out the allegations against Koko.

ACC Deputy director Abu Sayeed filed the case with Ramna Police Station on April 23 this year, accusing that Koko made a fortune of Tk 2.23 crore through illegal means and concealed information on around Tk 11.20 lakh of his assets in his statement to the anti-corruption watchdog.

According to the case, Koko claimed that he, his wife and two daughters own Tk 8.08 crore in movable and immovable property, but investigations revealed their wealth to be more than had been declared.

The ACC enquiry also found that he covered up information about an apartment at Banani, bank loans, 500 shares (Tk 100 each), two savings certificates (Tk 1 lakh each) in his wife’s name and benefits he might have received from different businesses, it added.

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