Lt Gen (retd) Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury yesterday reaffirmed that the allegation against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s son Arafat Rahman Koko of laundering about Tk 12 crore is authentic, legally recognised and confirmed by the Singapore Attorney General’s Office.
Shooting down the idea that the allegation is motivated and false, the anti-corruption watchdog chief said they have published the information upon confirmation by legal experts about taking the matter to the court.
“We didn’t publish the allegation until we were sure it was authentic. We think our information is authentic and legally recognised,” said Hasan Mashhud in a routine press briefing at the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) headquarters.
He added: “In Bangladesh the case is not like others. It’s a different type of case and it’s the first of its kind and we have confirmed information about it.”
He went on to say a case will be filed immediately after the matter of laundering the money is proved through legal process.
“Had the money been legal, Koko would have mentioned it in the wealth statement he had submitted to the commission,” he argued in reply to a question whether the money was really illegal.
“It’s not acceptable that the commission’s functions will be hampered or limited due to political activities. The commission also cannot ignore the matter of diminishing its own image and credibility due to such statements as its activities are conducted against innocent people,” Mashhud said.
He said confirmation and disclosure of the information about the funnelled out money is the result of last one and a half years’ efforts through Mutual Legal Assistance Rules (MLAR).
The Singapore government informed ACC about the matter through its law office following Bangladesh government’s request for mutual legal assistance.
He also said the information in this regard also came from a case filed in the USA.
“The commission has published the information being aware of the rights of people to get information. The commission once again wants to state it firmly that the body is not against any individual or quarter and considers corruption as its only opponent,” he observed.
The Attorney General’s Office in Singapore sent the information regarding Koko on September 30. Since then the commission had the information examined by legal experts and its merit confirmed for a legal battle, the ACC boss said.
In reply to a question whether ACC is hampering the election process Mashhud said the commission has no bindings to coordinate with ongoing political activities.
On whether ACC would be able to pursue the case under an elected government he said that would depend on how much the anti-graft watchdog can operate uninterrupted. But the commission would not be lacking in its intention to do so, he added.
“You cannot say it for sure what is going to happen when an elected government assumes power. Above all, the commission has taken the decision of publishing the allegation after discussion with lawyers.”
In response to another question he said the matter of bringing back the siphoned off money will have to wait until the case is disposed in the court. He however admitted the work would be time-consuming and expensive as the matter is complicated.
In an earlier briefing on Thursday, ACC informed that Koko owns a firm named ZASZ Trading and Consulting Pvt Ltd in Singapore jointly with a Singapore national, who is Koko’s paid service agent, and has had about Tk 12 crore in the country.
The whole amount was deposited to the joint account of that firm at different times in 2005.
Meanwhile, Mashhud also said that ACC have 194 ongoing cases, while 134 cases are stayed by the High Court and 328 cases await disposal in the higher court.
The ACC has also initiated the process of appointing 32 deputy assistant directors and 40 assistant directors under its new organogram.
Categories: Bangla, Bangladesh, Bangladesh News, Bangladesh Politics, Daily Bangladesh News, News, Politics
