Staff Correspondent
The Anti-Corruption Commi-ssion on Thursday claimed that it had received a complaint against former prime minister Khaleda Zia’s youngest son Arafat Rahman of making financial transactions of about Tk 11.6 crore in Singapore between May 6, 2005 and February 22, 2007.
The commission’s spokesperson colonel Hanif Iqbal, also director general (administration), said at a press briefing on Thursday that the commission had initiated a preliminary inquiry into the allegation.
‘The ACC has received the information from the attorney general’s office in Singapore after it had requested the office under the United Nations Convention against Corruption,’ he said.
According to him, $2,061,093 and $261,477 equivalent to Tk 11.6 crore has been temporarily frozen by the Singaporean authorities.
The commission has appointed an officer to conduct an inquiry into the transactions made allegedly by Arafat Rahman and some of his associates through ZASZ company registered on April 10, 2004, the official said.
He said that $920,986 was credited on May 6, 2005 in ZASZ’s account by the China Harbor Engineering, a company having business interest in Bangladesh. Another amount of $830,656 was credited by the Chinese company to ZASZ account on May 31, 2005.
Later on July 29, 2005, an amount of $830,656 was transferred from ZASZ account to elsewhere through a cheque reportedly signed by Arafat.
Another amount of $829,706 was credited on August 1, 2005 and $3,03,254 on October 6, 2005 to the ZASZ account by the China Harbor Engineering, the DG said.
Arafat on February 22, 2007 reportedly transferred $20,13,467.38 to Credit Industriel et Commercial (CIC) bank in France through a Singaporean agent, the ACC official told the briefing.
Regarding the next steps by the ACC, Hanif said inquiry was underway after receiving the information and a case might be filed after getting adequate evidence.
Asked about the process of repatriating the money to Bangladesh, the ACC DG said, ‘Return of the money will depend upon the court order.’
Courtesy: newagebd.com
