ACC targets to convict 150 corrupt by ‘08

FE Team | Published: August 21, 2007 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has set a target to have 150 corrupt persons convicted by December 2008 if there is no act of god, reports UNB.
"At the current rate of inquiry, investigation and conviction in lower courts, we'll be able to reach the target of having 150 corrupt people convicted by December 2008 if there is no act of god and the High Court (HC) upholds the verdicts," ACC secretary Mokhles ur Rahman told a questioner at the Commission's regular briefing Monday afternoon.
About filing any case against BNP joint secretary general Tarique Rahman, he said the first information report (FIR) is not filed right after the submission of an inquiry report.
"FIR is filed only after the satisfaction of the Commission, which is scrutinising it (inquiry report of Tarique) at the moment. The quality of the inquiry will also have to be seen."
Asked whether it means the inquiry into Tarique was not a quality one, Mohkles said, "There are some more demands."
He said officers of the 'weak inquiries' are being called in regularly by the Commission.
About the organoram approved Sunday at the meeting of National Implementation Committee on Administrative Reforms (NICAR), the ACC secretary said of the approved 1,281 posts, 1073 would be permanent, 191 supernumerary and 17 of outsourcing ones.
He said some 351 individuals, who were absorbed by the Commission but not posted, would be posted under the new organogram. "But, the issue regarding 264 withdrawn employees will depend on court verdict, as there is a case pending with the court."
Responding to a query, Mokhles said with the new organogram six divisional and 22 zonal offices would be more functional and the Commission would be able to work more. "One day there will be no joint forces nor caretaker government. The Commission will have to be prepared so that it can function normally after that."
He said ACC chairman Lt Gen (retd) Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury has written to the Cabinet Secretary to ensure full compliance of the service rules by the government employees regarding the declaration of their updated assets every year.
"It was there before. Its practice was reduced and they have been asked to practice. If it's complied, naturally corruption will come down."
The ACC secretary said a case was filed Sunday with Ramna police station against Jamuna group chairman and owner of Daily Jugantor Nurul Islam Babul, his wife and son for acquiring wealth beyond their known sources of income.
He said former BNP lawmaker Shahidul Islam was served with a notice Sunday to submit his wealth statement within seven working days.