ID :
15271
Fri, 08/08/2008 - 09:07
Auther :

TAC sets deadline for voluntary disclosure by graft suspects

DHAKA, Bangladesh, Aug 7 (BSS) - The newly constituted Truth and
Reconciliation Commission (TAC) today reiterated its earlier
announcement, setting the deadline for voluntary disclosure of
ill-gotten wealth by the corruption suspects.

"Any person intending to disclose voluntarily the information
(regarding his corruption) can file applications to the
commission by September 1," the quasi judicial body said in a
statement a day after its formation with former Supreme Court
judge justice Habibur Rahman as its chairman.

The statement further said that the persons concerned could
also file petitions seeking secrecy of the information they would
provide.

President Professor Dr. Iajuddin Ahmed on July 30 signed an
order constituting the high powered commission to provide
corruption suspects with an avenue to avoid imprisonment in
exchange of their confessions and surrender of their illegally
earned wealth to the state.

Maj. Gen (retd) Manzur Rashid Khan and former Comptroller and
Auditor General (CAG) Asif Ali were appointed as members of the
three- member commission constituted as part of the massive anti-
graft campaign being spearheaded by the caretaker government.

According to the TAC statement, any corruption suspect could
seek the high-powered body's intervention to evade charges and
trial under Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).

It would also receive cases to be referred by the Anti-
Corruption Commission (ACC), the National Coordination Committee
on Severe Crime and the appropriate courts subject to the written
applications of the persons concerned willing to disclose their
corruptions voluntarily.

"The Truth and Reconciliation Commission has been constituted
by the Honorable President for quick disposal of graft related
crimes in an alternative mechanism against the backdrop of
uncontrolled and massive corruptions in all spheres of the
statecraft and society affecting normal economic growth,
democracy and rule of law," the statement said.




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