The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

The Anti-Corruption Commission chairman, Lt Gen (retd) Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury yesterday said that it would not be acceptable to ACC if the Truth and Accountability Commission (TAC) compromises with any big corruption.

"If big corruption is compromised (by TAC), it won't not be acceptable to us," he told a regular press briefing in reply to questions relating to the newly formed TAC that began functioning on Sunday.

The ACC chairman, however, hoped that both his Commission and the TAC would work based on understating and there would be no bitterness.

Asked if the Commission has sent TAC any list of individuals seeking clemency, he said the ACC is not sending any list at the moment. "At some stage, we will have to take a stance. If anything is to be done as per the need and decision of TAC, we will do it after discussion with them."

About the prosecution and legal activities of the ACC, Mashhud said despite creation of different obstacles, these activities continued and the Commission is not startled by such obstacles.

Referring to some orders of higher courts relating to graft cases filed by the Commission, he said, "We were prepared. Since these are high-profile cases we knew there would be attempts to create obstacles. We are on track about the case-related matters."

Responding to a question, he said the Commission is going to propose certain amendments to its law and rules.

Without elaborating, the ACC chairman said amendments are being proposed based on experience of last one and half year where the Commission faced obstacles and there were problems with interpretations.

"We are making a draft proposal and within few days it will be placed before the government," he said.

Asked if the ACC cases are being scrapped by the High Court, as they were not well prepared, Mashhud said, "To the best of my knowledge, we have not taken any case to court with obvious weakness."

Asked if the Commission's men are losing interests in working due to High Court orders, he said there is no reason to be disheartened before the verdicts of the highest court.

He said the Commission is mentally prepared to improve the processes of work.

About the writ challenging the legality of the Anti-Corruption Commission (Amendment) Ordinance, 2007, the ACC chairman said, "We will have to wait for the court verdict."

He, however, said that if the ordinance is cancelled, not only the ACC many organizations would be affected.

On asking for accounts of wealth of spouses and children along with the corrupt suspects, Mashhud said, "There is provision in the law. I will not agree that the process is wrong until the verdict of the highest court. We are still doing it."

He said that if the court orders ACC would issue notices separately.

Replying to a question on seeking wealth statements from corrupt officials of Titas Gas, he said the ACC is waiting for time and opportunity to do so and the Commission is aware about the top corrupt officials.