HC asks ACC to capture real money launderers

The High Court on Sunday told the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to focus on capturing the "real" large-scale money launderers instead of businessmen.

The court said those who have built “Begum Para” outside the country and siphon out money to countries abroad are the real money launderers and the ACC should take action against them.

The HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and KM Zahid Sarwar said this to an ACC lawyer during a hearing on the anticipatory bail petition of Dinajpur businessman and district Jubo League leader Khalilullah Azad in case of money laundering.

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The court granted the accused 8-day bail on condition of submitting his passport and bar on leaving the country.

Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua presented the petitioner’s side during the hearing while lawyer Md Khurshid Alam Khan appeared for ACC. Deputy Attorney General (DAG) Amit Talukder stood for the state.

DAG Amit Talukder said a petition against the bail order will be filed with the appellate division.

Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua said the Crime investigation Department (CID) of police filed a case against Khalilullah for laundering Tk 35 crore though ACC was supposed to file the case.

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Moreover, according to the case complaint Khalilullah deposited more than Tk 14 crore in a Sonali Bank branch in Dinajpur and later credited the money in different times which does not actually exist, he said.

Khalilullah Azad was granted bail in 22 other cases.

On February 1, his family said in a press briefing that 16 cases had been filed against the businessman within four months when he was already behind the bars.