The New Nation - Internet Edition

It was recently reported in the media that the government was actively considering to form a Truth Commission in a bid to make disposal of corruption cases easy. This would surely help regain business confidence and intensify investment and economic activities in the country.

The Truth Commission would be constituted under a plea bargain law, which was reportedly being drafted. The Chief of Army Staff in his keynote address in a meeting with industrialists and businessmen in the first week of September at Radisson Water Garden Hotel in the city, made a clear reference to "plea bargain" without elaborating on the details. Many have reason to believe that the process of truth commission is his idea.

Though a new concept in the country, the Truth Commission would make settlement of corruption cases easy and convenient. There will not be lengthy court proceedings and no need of unassailable evidence. For the sake of extending equal benefits, it was clarified that the plea bargain law would not be made only for the businessmen. Any person accused of corruption can seek mitigation and mercy under the law.

Businessmen or any other person accused of corruption, having amassed illegal wealth or misappropriated huge funds from public money would be given a chance to confess their offences before the Truth Commission, pay penalty and return their illegally earned assets and property to the government. If their confession is accepted, then they will be convicted by a court of law to give the whole process the legal cover needed. Only concession will be they will not be kept in jail. One advantage for the country will be that the businessmen will be able to reassume their business activities free from fear.

All agree that for reviving the battered economy the country's businessmen have to be free to conduct their economic activities.

On the other hand, assets and property recovered after their confession to the Truth Commission would augment government revenue to finance the country's own development programmes. especially for the Sidr cyclone devastation.

The Adviser for Finance and Commerce recently observed that bringing back to the country the huge resources that the corrupt ones illegally transferred abroad was indeed, a daunting task.

Even after confession before the Truth Commission such ill-gotten money kept outside but not admitted can be pursued. There will be no amnesty against truth suppressed.

In this backdrop, the formation of the Truth Commission under the plea bargain law should be expedited, hopefully to motivate accused businessmen and others to confess their offences before the commission for the benefit of the country. This legal process will ensure quick recovery of a very sizeable amount of money, assets and property. The prosecution will be able to save considerable amount of money spent on litigations without being sure about the results of the court cases. What is also true is corruption cases are facing many problems to proceed with in court.