Staff Correspondent
The Anti-Corruption Commission’s spokesman on Monday hoped the commission would work independently and it had so far faced no interference from the political government.
‘The commission has so far faced nothing from the political government which can influence [its activities],’ the commission’s spokesman Hanif Iqbal, also director general (administration), said at its regular briefing on Monday.
He also said a US delegation of a justice department official and an FBI agent had a meeting on Monday with the commission seeking its assistance to recover $200 million allegedly taken by a dozen Bangladeshis, including former prime minister Khaleda Zia’s youngest son Arafat Rahman, former BNP ministers, leaders and businessmen, in bribe from different international companies in exchange for help in obtaining contracts.
About the names of 12 individuals allegedly involved in the bribery, Hanif said, ‘I have seen the names on the media. If the commission does not have proven information, it would not be right to disclose the names or number in the interest of investigation.’
As for Arafat’s about Tk 11.6 crore in foreign currencies temporarily frozen by the authorities in Singapore, he said, ‘An inquiry is going on.’
On December 18, the commission at its regular briefing said it had begun an inquiry into Arafat’s alleged financial transactions in foreign currencies in Singapore.
The same US delegation also met the law minister, Shafique Ahmed, on Sunday on the same issue.
The United States on Friday moved to seize the Singapore-based funds allegedly linked to bribing Bangladesh officials over projects involving German and Chinese firms.
The US justice department’s deputy chief Linda M Samuel and FBI agent Deborah Heprevotte had an hour-long meeting in the morning in the office of commission’s chairman Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury.
About the meeting, Hanif said the US delegation had sought assistance in accordance with the Mutual Legal Assistance Request under United Nations Convention Against Corruption.
Asked on which issues the US delegation sought assistance, Hanif said the discussions took place on information they got, and information and evidence the commission had
Courtesy: newagebd.com
