From now on, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) will seize assets of individuals it’s investigating rather than waiting for the court’s order.
The decision came at an urgent meeting of the graft watchdog at its headquarters on Thursday (Jan 24) with ACC chairman Iqbal Mahmood in the chair.
“No one will be given the opportunity to enjoy the luxury of illegal wealth.
“The ACC will seize it in favour of the State,” people who attended the meeting quoted Mahmood.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, ACC Director General (Law) Maidul Islam said, “The ACC can exercise its authority to seize illegal wealth anytime when it wants, be it under investigation.”
At the meeting, the ACC chief also instructed officials to list all cases related to the illegal wealth, both ongoing and disposed of, since 2004.
Mahmood instructed officials to check on whether a policy on seized property management can be formulated.
He also asked the officials to get in touch with the Cabinet Division, ministries and law enforcement agencies to find a way out to manage seized assets.
The ACC chief also asked to register details on seized properties and fines slapped by the court against people convicted of corruption.
Referring to the health ministry official, Abazal Hossain, the ACC chief said the officer may have more accounts with banks beyond the figures the ACC have traced.
“Letter will be sent to Bangladesh Bank, asking to halt all bank transaction of Hossain,” he said.
According to the ACC, Hossain, an official of Directorate General of Health Services owns as many as 24 plots and flats at different parts of the country. He also bought a house in Sydney spending $200,000.
After the meeting, ACC DG (administration) Mohammad Munir told the media that the ACC is working to ensure that families and next generations of the corrupted persons can have no luxury of illegally amassed wealth.