Dr Yunus wants to face every case
Says lawyer
FE REPORT | Tuesday, 13 August 2024
Chief Adviser Nobel laureate Prof Dr Muhammad Yunus did not well accept the attempts of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to withdraw a money-laundering case filed against him and 13 others, said his lawyer.
In a briefing on Monday, his lawyer Barrister Abdullah Al Mamun said the ACC's initiative to withdraw the case did not follow the due process of law. As a result, ACC's move can give a wrong message to the nation that Prof Yunus' influence may be behind its withdrawal.
He also said, "The High Court division has summarily rejected a petition filed by the accused seeking quashment of the case. However, the order has not been released yet. We will file an appeal against the HC order after the release of a written order."
"When a petition regarding a case is pending before the High Court division or the Appellate Division, the lower court concerned cannot hold proceedings on that case. But the ACC on Sunday prayed to the lower court concerned to withdraw the case. Granting their petition the trial court acquitted the accused including Prof Yunus. We were not aware of their attempts."
"Prof Yunus is a law-abiding citizen. He told me that he will face every case filed against him following due process of law. We aren't aware about the attempt of the ACC. Prof Yunus didn't want this. We will prove this in the court that we are innocent."
The ACC filed the case on May 30, 2023 against Prof Yunus and 12 others with its Integrated District Office no 1 in Dhaka. An accused was included after investigation.
It was alleged in the case that the accused embezzled Tk 252.2 million from Grameen Telecom Workers' Profit Participation Fund and transferred it illegally which is an offence under the Money Laundering Prevention Act.
Investigation Officer of the case, Gulshan Anwar Prodhan, also a deputy director of the ACC, on February 1, 2024 submitted the charge sheet against Prof Yunus and 13 others in the case.
A Dhaka court on June 12 this year framed charges against all the 14 accused in the case filed on charges of embezzling and laundering Tk 252.2 million from the workers' fund.