The High Court on Monday came down heavily on the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for its slow move in submitting charge sheets in bank scam cases.
“Banks are being emptied out, will we just stand and watch it?” the HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Khizir Hayat asked the corruption watchdog during a hearing on the bail plea of Mohammad Ali who is accused in 12 cases over BASIC Bank scam.
The bench also expressed its outrage towards the commission for its failure in completing the investigation in all the 61 cases over Tk4,500 crore embezzlement of BASIC Bank.
Later, the court fixed Tuesday to hear the arguments of the ACC side and give a verdict on the matter.
During the hearing, Mohammad Ali’s lawyer SM Abul Hossain said, “Even after five years, the ACC is not issuing a charge sheet in this case. The trial is also not progressing. My client worked only as a clerk at the bank. The ACC could not even specify what his crime was.”
At this time, the senior judge of the bench said, “Judges, lawyers and millions of eyes are observing, but no one is doing anything. Why is everyone silent? Banks are being emptied out, shall we just watch and do nothing!”
On the day, the Anti-Corruption Commission submitted a letter to the High Court informing that they have sent a request to Malaysia seeking evidence in the BASIC Bank embezzlement of Tk2,770 crores.
A total of 4,500 crore was laundered from BASIC Bank through loan forgeries between 2009 and 2013.
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