TAC mulls time extension for seeking clemency
Sunday, 21 September 2008
The Truth and Accountability Commission (TAC) is actively considering extending the deadline beyond September 30 for submitting clemency applications, reports UNB.
The time extension for the second time was under active consideration of the Commission, TAC sources told the news agency.
The Commission that was set up about one and half months ago had initially fixed September 1 as the deadline for filing clemency applications. Later, the deadline was extended up to September 30.
According to the sources, the Commission had the power to extend the time and a decision in this regard would be taken in a meeting of its three members soon.
On Wednesday, TAC Chairman Justice Habibur Rahman Khan told the Commission's regular briefing that they would consider it if the circumstances demanded extension.
Responding to a query Saturday, the TAC chairman expressed his unwillingness to talk about it.
Since its inception, 230 corrupt individuals had applied to TAC seeking clemency in return for their ill-gotten money. Of them, National Coordination Committee (NCC) on Serious Crime and Corruption had referred 166 names while the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) had referred 56, and eight individuals had applied directly.
Though meant for corrupt politicians and businessmen, there were six businessmen, 205 government servants and wives of 16 of them, and three other professionals among 230 persons.
In addition to 56 names put forward so far, the ACC had received another 22 applications for referring their names to TAC. They include one politician, four professionals, 14 government officials and wives of three of them. This was the first time a politician had applied for clemency.
According to sources at the ACC, the names are likely to be forwarded to TAC today (Sunday).
Meanwhile, the corrupt individuals, whose pleas had been heard by TAC, had so far made commitment to give Tk 161.2 million to the exchequer in return for clemency.
The time extension for the second time was under active consideration of the Commission, TAC sources told the news agency.
The Commission that was set up about one and half months ago had initially fixed September 1 as the deadline for filing clemency applications. Later, the deadline was extended up to September 30.
According to the sources, the Commission had the power to extend the time and a decision in this regard would be taken in a meeting of its three members soon.
On Wednesday, TAC Chairman Justice Habibur Rahman Khan told the Commission's regular briefing that they would consider it if the circumstances demanded extension.
Responding to a query Saturday, the TAC chairman expressed his unwillingness to talk about it.
Since its inception, 230 corrupt individuals had applied to TAC seeking clemency in return for their ill-gotten money. Of them, National Coordination Committee (NCC) on Serious Crime and Corruption had referred 166 names while the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) had referred 56, and eight individuals had applied directly.
Though meant for corrupt politicians and businessmen, there were six businessmen, 205 government servants and wives of 16 of them, and three other professionals among 230 persons.
In addition to 56 names put forward so far, the ACC had received another 22 applications for referring their names to TAC. They include one politician, four professionals, 14 government officials and wives of three of them. This was the first time a politician had applied for clemency.
According to sources at the ACC, the names are likely to be forwarded to TAC today (Sunday).
Meanwhile, the corrupt individuals, whose pleas had been heard by TAC, had so far made commitment to give Tk 161.2 million to the exchequer in return for clemency.