The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) says it is unwilling, at this moment, to launch probes into wealth statements of ruling party leaders, who are contesting in the January 5 national polls
“To avoid any possible indiscipline in the country, we do not want to asses the wealth statements given by candidates in their affidavits before the Election Commission,” said ACC Commissioner M Shahabuddin Chuppu. He said this to reporters at a briefing at the ACC office on Thursday following an EC report that the wealth statements of a number of ministers and ruling party leaders show an unusual rise in incomes.
Shahabuddin apprehended that if the commission goes for checking the wealth statements of the candidates, it may lead to a chaos as the election wind is blowing across the country. “The commission is not willing to do this at the moment,” he added.
Besides, he said, the commission organisationally is not in a position to investigate the sources of wealth of candidates who submitted their wealth statements to the EC. The commissioner of anti-corruption watchdog however said that they would examine the matter after the poll.
Asked whether the commission is working against the BNP leaders with an ill motive, Shahabuddin said the commission did not file any case against any BNP leader. Rather, the commission summoned and questioned a number of government advisers, ministers and ruling party lawmakers, he said.
When asked about the ACC case filed against BNP leader Moudud Ahmed, the commissioner said that none is above law.
-With The Independent input
