The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Only 21 corrupt persons have so far approached the Truth and Accountability Commission for pardon in return for their amassed money, prompting the TAC authorities to think about extending the petition period as many are still in two minds.

"The Commission is definitely going to extend the deadline by another month after September 1 initially set by the Commission," a competent source told UNB on Sunday.

About the extension of timeframe, TAC chairman Justice Habibur Rahman Khan told UNB, "Yes, there is a possibility of extending the time by one month. It will be announced later on."

The chief of the clemency body, who, along with the two TAC members, attended office on the holiday today, said he and his two colleagues are able to take the decision of extending time. "No government permission is needed in this regard," he said to a question.

In the regular briefing on Wednesday, the TAC chairman admitted that the response so far was not up to the expectation and had said an extension of timeframe would be considered.

The TAC contemplation over extending time is the result of the lukewarm response from the corrupt individuals, who are on the horns of a dilemma as to whether to surrender their ill-gotten wealth to state exchequer or surrender themselves to the law under the ongoing clean-up drive against corruption.

Since the formation of the Commission on July 30, only four have applied to make voluntary disclosures for clemency in exchange for their ill-gotten wealth. And, upon applications from the concerned, the Anti-Corruption Commission has sent a list of 17 persons asking to take the advantage of the TAC.

According to ACC spokesperson Col Hanif Iqbal, the ACC has prepared another list of 15 persons to be sent to the TAC.

None of the 36 penitent persons to be dealt with by the TAC is known to be any bigwig. They include retired and serving government officials, some of wives of corrupt officials and a businessman.

Meanwhile, the hearings of the limited number of cases received by the TAC are likely to begin within a week.

"The hearings will begin soon…Maybe, within a week or so," the TAC chief said.

He said the Commission would speak to the applicants Aug 25-28 and, if satisfied with their statements, the applicants would be provided with the prescribed forms to make the declarations. During that period, the applicants would be informed about the dates for hearing.

On July 30 this year, the TAC was formed with the appointments of the chairman and the two members - Asif Ali and Maj Gen (retd) Manjur Rashid. They assumed office on Aug 3 and the public notification was issued immediately asking the corrupt to come up to take the advantage by September 1 at the latest.

Under the ordinance by which the TAC was constituted, apart from voluntary disclosure by the individuals, the ACC, the National Coordination Committee (NCC) on serious crime and corruption and courts (before or during charge-framing hearing) can refer the cases. But, the persons concerned will have to apply for referring their cases to the TAC.