The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) finally sued Mayor of Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) and BNP leader Sadek Hossain Khoka, his wife, son and daughter for allegedly amassing ill-gotten wealth and concealing information thereof.

The Assistant Director of ACC Samsul Alam filed the First Information Report yesterday with Ramna police station against Khoka, his wife Ismat Ara, son Ishrak Hossain and daughter Sarika Sadek.

The Mayor, along with his family, has been accused of acquiring wealth worth about Tk 17.57 crore beyond known sources of their income and covering up information of assets worth about Tk 10 crore in the statement submitted to the anti-graft watchdog under the ongoing purge in the interim period.

The first corruption case against Mayor Khoka was filed under sections 26(2) and 27(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act 2004, section 109 of the Penal Code and section 15 of the Emergency Power Rules 2007.

Earlier, the ACC had approved the filing of the case against Khoka, also President of Dhaka City BNP, the recent past ruling party now in deep trouble in the changed situation.

The DCC mayor is one of the 35 corruption suspects whose names appeared on the fourth and last list published by the ACC on October 4, 2007. He was issued notice on November 18 directing him to submit his wealth statement.

Khoka complied with the Commission's directive on December 6 by submitting his wealth statement. In the statement he showed he and his family have movable and immovable property worth about Tk 10.05 crore. Their wealth includes 11 houses and flats, eight plots, a good acreage of land, Tk 5.5 crore and many other assets.

After months of inquiry, Shamsul, the inquiry officer, submitted his report recommending the filing of case against the quartet suspects.

Meanwhile, the accused DCC mayor vowed to continue legal battle against the charges.

Khoka said, "I will continue legal battle against the case. While replying to a question he said, "I've just heard about it. I didn't see the charges.

I'll be better-placed to comment only after seeing the charges."

Col Hanif Iqbal, Director General (Admin) of ACC, said, "It is too early to say whether the accused, including the Mayor, would be arrested following the filing of the case."

"It's too early to tell if the accused persons will be arrested. There are some processes to be followed," said Hanif Iqbal.

After the appointment of investigating officer, if he or she feels that in the interest it is necessary to arrest them, he said adding, "It will be done so in due time."