Court allows ACC to quiz Hasina

FE Team | Published: October 24, 2007 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00

A Dhaka court Tuesday allowed an Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) investigator to quiz Sheikh Hasina on charges of taking Tk 30 million in bribe for shady approval of three barge-mounted power plants, reports bdnews24.com.
The investigator will question the former prime minister and Awami League President in connection with the graft case, filed against a total of seven people on September 2.
Judge Md Mizanur Rahman of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's (CMM) Court allowed investigating officer and ACC Deputy Director Morshed Alam to interrogate Hasina who has been detained in special jail since July 16.
Alam, in his petition Monday said, the former premier needs to be quizzed by an anti-corruption taskforce for the sake of a proper investigation.
According to case details, Hasina, when she was prime minister, approved the appointment of Summit Group and United Group for setting up three barge-mounted power plants - in Haripur, Shikal Baha and Khulna - depriving New England Power Company Consortium, the lowest bidder for the job.
In exchange, Hasina took Tk 30 million in bribe from Summit Group and United Group. The money was spent to buy a piece of land, including a two-storied building at Dhanmondi Road No 32, to build Bangabandhu Memorial Trust.
ACC Deputy Director MM Shabbir Hasan filed the corruption case with Tejgaon Police Station on September 2.
Other accused in the case are former power and energy secretary Towfique-e-Elahi Chowdhury, former chairman of PDB (Power Development Board) Nooruddin Mahmud Kamal, managing director of Summit Industries and Mercantile Corporation Ltd Muhammad Aziz Khan and director Muhammad Farid Khan, chairman of United Group Hasan Mahmud Raja and director Abul Kalam Azad.
UNB adds: The Anti-Corruption Commission has suspended inquiry into the wealth statement submitted by former Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina on August 17.
"There is a stay order from the High Court on the inquiry into the wealth statement of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The Commission Tuesday asked the concerned IO (inquiry officer) to suspend the inquiry and scrutiny until further order," ACC secretary Mokhles ur Rahman told reporters at his office Tuesday afternoon.
Replying to a question, he said as the issue is under trial the inquiry would remain suspended until the court verdict. The hearing would resume on October 28.
Tuesday's development took place against the backdrop of a legal notice served by Hasina's lawyer Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Tapash on October 18 warning of facing a contempt-of-court proceeding if the inquiry continues after the notice.
During the Commission's regular briefing on Monday, the ACC secretary said anyone could serve a legal notice, but it does not mean that the inquiry process would stop.
Talking to reporters Tuesday, Mokhles said the Commission has sought court permission to take former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's detained younger son Arafat Rahman Koko on remand for questioning in connection with the GATCO graft case.