Niko graft cases

The Anti-Corruption Commission is now scrutinising the investigation reports of the two separate Niko graft cases, filed against two former Prime Ministers and nine others, before taking a decision on submission of charge sheets, reports UNB.

The investigation report of the case against Khaleda and four others was submitted on March 13, reportedly recommending submission of charge sheet against a total of 15 persons, including those charged initially.

On the other hand, the investigation officer submitted the report of another Niko case against Hasina and six others Thursday (March 20) with a recommendation of submission of charge sheet against seven initially charged ones, including Hasina and reportedly another two persons.

On December 9, ACC assistant director Mahbubul Alam filed the case with Tejgaon police station against Khaleda Zia, former Law Minister Barrister Moudud Ahmed, ex-State Minister for Energy AKM Mosharraf Hossain, former secretary Khandaker Shahidul Islam and vice-president (South Asian Affairs) Niko Resources Bangladesh Limited Kashem Sharif.

They were accused of signing the "illegal" deal with Niko through corruption that caused a loss of Tk 10,000 crore to the State.
ACC deputy director Shabbir Hasan filed a separate case on the same day with the same police station against Hasina, former State Minister for Power and Energy Rafiqul Islam, former principal secretary Dr SA Samad, former Power and Energy secretary Dr Tawfiq E Elahi Chowdhury, former Power and Energy secretary Akmal Hossain, former Petro Bangla chairman Dr Mosharraf Hossain and vice-president (South Asian Affairs) of Niko Resources Bangladesh Limited Kashem Sharif Kashem Sharif.

They were accused of signing the "corrupt and illegal" deal with Niko that inflicted a loss of Tk 13630.50 crore on the national exchequre.

During the two-month long investigation into the case against Khaleda, the involvement of another 10 persons were reportedly found apart from the initially accused five persons and which is why inclusion of these names in the charge sheet has been recommended.

Those additional persons recommended to be charge-sheeted include former Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Dr Kamal Uddin Siddiqui, businessman Giasuddin Al Mamun, former Dhaka Club president Selim Bhuiyan and Law Ministry joint secretary Noren Das.

In the investigation into the case against Hasina and six others, it has been reported that the investigation officer recommended inclusion of another couple of individuals in the charge sheet apart from the first seven.

About the state of the two high-profile cases, ACC director general (admin) Col Hanif Iqbal, also the Commission''s spokesperson, told UNB that the investigation report of the Niko case against Khaleda is being scrutinised at the moment.
About the case against Hasina, he, however, said, "I''m not sure whether the investigation report of this case was submitted or not. I didn''t inquire about it."

But, a senior ACC official, requesting anonymity, confirmed UNB that the investigation report of the case was submitted with the Commission Thursday and it is now being scrutinised.

About the next steps after the submission of the investigation reports, Col Hanif Iqbal said following the submission of a memo of evidence first it is seen by a director followed by a director general before it goes to the Commissioner in charge of the investigation.

Then, he said, the Commissioner present this report in front of the full Commission for taking a decision on submission of charge sheet and who to be included or excluded.

Hanif said that if the Commission feels necessary it could discuss legal opinions with lawyers.

Replying to a question, he said the ultimate authority rests with the Commission as to how many people in a case would be charge-sheeted.

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