ACC to assess assets of alleged corrupt ministers, MPs\\\' relatives
FE Report | Tuesday, 21 January 2014
The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) is contemplating assessment of the assets of not only the alleged corrupt ministers and members of parliament (MPs) but also their relatives.
"We will not feel embarrassed to scrutinise the unusual increase in wealth of some ministers and MPs in last five years even though they are much powerful. The relatives of such public figures will also come under the scanner of the anti-graft watchdog," ACC Secretary M Foyzur Rahman Chowdhury told the reporters at the monthly briefing of the commission at its headquarters in the city Monday.
He said they have been collecting information and news clips on the amassing of wealth by the ministers and MPs and will investigate those after comparing with the affidavit submitted to the Election Commission (EC) before election.
The ACC Secretary, however, said the process is still at the primary level and the formal investigation into the allegations will start soon.
Earlier, the ACC officials informed the journalists that the commission has taken a decision to examine the MPs' affidavits which they provided to the EC before 10th parliamentary elections.
ACC chairman M Badiuzzman said that the commission is scrutinising information about the wealth of ministers and MPs.
"We have started collecting information and news clips on the amassing of wealth by the ministers and MPs," he added.
Media reports on huge discrepancies between wealth statements of the ministers and MPs which they submitted to the Election Commission ahead of the 10th parliamentary elections and the statements they had provided prior to the 9th national polls in 2008 created furors among the people.
About the recent arrest warrant issued by the High Court against BNP senior vice chairman Tarique Rahman, the ACC Secretary said though the case was filed by the commission, the whole process is now under court's jurisdiction.
Mr Chowdhury informed the journalists that they approved filing of 350 cases on different corruption related issues from January to December, 2013.
In the mean time, the ACC submitted 517 charge sheets to the court and approved submission of final report in 409 cases.