https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/crime-justice/news/acc-probe-hasina-joy-over-laundering-300m-us-3782001

The Anti-Corruption Commission has decided to launch an investigation against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy on allegations of laundering $300 million to the United States.

The ACC took this decision in a commission meeting yesterday, said Akhtarul Islam, deputy director of the anti-graft body.

According to an ACC source, the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted a preliminary investigation into Hasina and Joy, whose name first came up in the US vs. Rizvi Ahmed case in 2014. The FBI's investigation uncovered a "serious financial scandal" involving Joy.

"In particular, information emerged that money was being laundered from various bank accounts in his name in Hong Kong and the Cayman Islands to various bank accounts in Washington DC, New York and London through a local money exchange. The FBI confirmed the matter through their London representative and found evidence that serious financial irregularities and money laundering crimes had been committed there," the source said.

"Linda Samuels, Senior Trial Attorney of the Department of Justice (DOJ), contacted Special Agent La Private and found that $300 million was deposited from Bangladesh to various bank accounts in the United States," the source added.

Earlier on December 17, the ACC decided to launch an investigation into allegations that Hasina, Joy, Hasina's sister Sheikh Rehana, and Rehana's daughter Tulip Siddiq, a British lawmaker, embezzled Tk 80,000 crore from nine priority projects.

Speaking about this case in a views exchange programme with journalists at the ACC headquarters yesterday, the commission's Chairman Mohammad Abdul Momen said, "Many of the things we know are true. We will provide more information when we have more data."

ACC BOSS'S ASSETS

In the meeting with reporters, ACC Chairman Momen revealed his wealth statement.

According to Momen, he owns a 1,500-square-foot apartment combining two 750-square-foot units at Bosila in the city's Mohammadpur. He is in the process of acquiring an additional 700 square feet there.

Together with his wife, he has a five-katha empty plot in Purbachal American City.

As a member of the BCS Administration Committee, Momen was allocated an 1.25-katha share of a 10-katha plot. He has not gained possession yet after receiving the allocation in 2007.

He had deposited Tk 75,000 for a RAJUK plot, but no resolution has been made until now. "For some reason, the government did not allocate it to me. I will apply again. Apart from this, I have no other immovable assets."

Momen's movable assets include 25 shelves filled with books of various sizes, including many valuable ones. He has furniture and electronic items worth around Tk 5 lakh.

He has a five-year savings certificate worth TK 30 lakh and another three-monthly savings certificate worth Tk 20 lakh. He has not withdrawn his General Provident Fund money, which amounts to Tk 17 lakh.

Answering to a journalist's question, Momen said, "It is our expectation that corrupt individuals are not spared. But our expectations are often not met for various reasons. Perhaps the cases we file are weak.

"While it's not appropriate to criticise the judiciary here, questions do arise about whether justice is served. However, holding the ACC solely responsible for ensuring justice would not be fair."

ACC Commissioner (Investigation) Mia Mohammad Ali Akbar Azizi said, "The ACC does not yet have its own prosecution rules. During the 1/11 government, I was a deputy secretary in the law ministry. A directive for establishing a permanent prosecution system and creating a Bangladesh Attorney Service Directory was prepared at that time. The law was drafted as well.

"However, subsequent political governments did not pursue the ordinance, and it remained stuck. Bringing in senior and qualified lawyers into the commission's permanent prosecution would require better remuneration, which will take some time."

ACC Commissioner (Inquiry) Brig Gen (retd) Hafiz Ahsan Farid said, "The ACC's professional foundation is strong. Even after the commission was non-functional for 42 days, its officials and employees worked tirelessly. The ACC is committed to ensuring that it will not be subservient to anyone."