ACC makes attaching of accused's statements with reports mandatory

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The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Thursday decided that from now on, investigation officers (IOs) would have to take statements of the accused concerned and those would have to be attached with their reports, says UNB.
Under the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004 and Anti-Corruption Rules, 2007, an inquiry or investigation officer may take the statement of the accused, but Thursday's decision has made it mandatory.
"In the interest of maintaining transparency, from now on inquiry and investigation officers will take the statements from individuals under inquiry and investigation and the statements will be attached with their reports," ACC director general (admin) Col Hanif Iqbal said during the Commission's regular briefing.
He said the Commission also decided that from now on people under inquiry and investigation would be informed if allegations against them are not proved or if the Commission feels unnecessary to go ahead with inquiries and investigations.
Replying to a question, he said the accused would be informed following the legal process.
About the appeal against the High Court (HC) verdict, Hanif said the Commission took a unanimous decision to lodge an appeal with the Appellate Division against the HC verdict declaring illegal the Commission's notice asking Hasina to submit her wealth statement.
Hanif said handing over suspected people to the law is only part of the efforts to create a corruption-free environment and it would be illogical to conclude that the Commission's overall activities are damaged completely if any suspected individual is acquitted by court.
He, however, said the Commission would consider amendments to the work-process in the light of verdict, if necessary.
When asked by a correspondent that notices have been issued earlier without inquiry, the director general said the ACC is trying to follow its power and schedule, and it would in due time look into if there is any deviation.
To another query, he said if there has been any deviation and any one detects it there is a scope for amendments.
In an oblique reference to the remarks of Hasina's lawyer Barrister Rafique-ul Huq, who termed Wednesday's HC judgment a 'semi-Sidr hit on the ACC', Hanif said no disaster could defeat the people of the country, not even the recent Sidr.
The newsmen were informed that the Commission has decided to file a case against former State Minister for LGRD Ziaul Haque Zia and his wife and son for concealing information and acquiring wealth beyond their known sources of income.