UNB, Dhaka :
The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) is likely to complete its probe into the much-talked-about Padma Bridge graft case within a couple of months since the investigation gathered pace with the receiving of some ‘substantial’ information from Canadian authorities.
“We’ve collected some substantial information from Canada. The information, I think, are enough to complete the investigation into the Padma graft case,” ACC commissioner M Shahabuddin told UNB.
He hoped that the ACC investigator will able to submit report to the Commission in the next two months.
The anti-graft body filed a case on December 17, 2012 against seven people for their alleged involvement in the Padma Bridge project graft dropping the names of key suspects former Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain and former State Minister for Foreign Affairs Abul Hasan Chowdhury.
The ACC completed the much-sought investigation into the graft case on Bangladesh part last year, but it had been waiting to see the completion of trial at the Canadian court and receive evidence,
including Ramesh Shah’s diary, from the Canadian authorities to initiate the investigation into the Canadian part.
Ramesh Shah, a Bangladeshi origin Canadian national and one of the key graft suspects, reportedly mentioned in his diary that four percent would be given to former Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain in hiring consultant for the giant Padma Bridge project.
ACC sources said, the Commission has already collected some references documents and copies of the witnesses’ statement given during the trial, which will help the ACC investigator complete his task.
“We’re examining the documents right now. The documents will help us accelerate our investigation into the Padma bridge graft case,” a senior official of the national anti-graft body told UNB wishing anonymity.
Five graft suspects, including Ramesh Shah and Abul Hasan Chowdhury, were facing trial in Canada, but a Canadian court recently halted the trial of Abul Hasan auguring that the court has no jurisdiction as he is a foreign citizen despite there was evidence of irregularities against him.
The court also said, if Canada could establish jurisdiction over the accused in the future, prosecution could appeal to the court seeking trial of Abul Hasan.
“The court has given a strategic order. It stayed the trial in doubt over the issue that does not mean he (Abul Hasan) has got relief from the court,” Commissioner Shahabuddin said adding that the court will further take decision about him.
Earlier, a case was filed with a court in Canada in connection with the Padma Bridge graft and its hearing continues there. The hearing in Canadian court began in April 2013.
On May 20, 2013, a two-member ACC team – its chief legal adviser, Advocate Anisul Huq and deputy director Mirza Zahidul Alam – went to Canada to be present at the hearing of the Canadian court and collect evidence. Later, in November 2013, Advocate Anisul Huq had been in Canada to collect information and documents related to the Padma Bridge corruption conspiracy case.
During their visits to Canada, the ACC tried to collect the copy of Ramesh’s diary and interrogate Mohammad Ismail, Ramesh Shah and Kevin Wallace (three key graft suspects facing trial in Canadian court), but the ACC failed to do so, the ACC sources said.
The accused in the Padma bridge graft case are former secretary of Bridge Division Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan (now member of Privatization Board), superintendent engineer (river control) of Bangladesh Bridge Authority Kazi M Ferdous, executing engineer (bridge construction and maintenance) of Roads and Highways Department M Riaz Ahmed Zaber, deputy managing director of Engineer and Planning Consultant Limited Mohammad Mustafa, former director (international project division) of SNC LavalinInc Mohammad Ismail, former vice president (international project division) of SNC Lavalin Ramesh Shah and former vice-president of SNC Lavalin Kevin Wallace.
SNC Lavalin is a Canadian consultancy firm, which participated in bidding process to have works in the Padma Bridge project.
The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) is likely to complete its probe into the much-talked-about Padma Bridge graft case within a couple of months since the investigation gathered pace with the receiving of some ‘substantial’ information from Canadian authorities.
“We’ve collected some substantial information from Canada. The information, I think, are enough to complete the investigation into the Padma graft case,” ACC commissioner M Shahabuddin told UNB.
He hoped that the ACC investigator will able to submit report to the Commission in the next two months.
The anti-graft body filed a case on December 17, 2012 against seven people for their alleged involvement in the Padma Bridge project graft dropping the names of key suspects former Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain and former State Minister for Foreign Affairs Abul Hasan Chowdhury.
The ACC completed the much-sought investigation into the graft case on Bangladesh part last year, but it had been waiting to see the completion of trial at the Canadian court and receive evidence,
including Ramesh Shah’s diary, from the Canadian authorities to initiate the investigation into the Canadian part.
Ramesh Shah, a Bangladeshi origin Canadian national and one of the key graft suspects, reportedly mentioned in his diary that four percent would be given to former Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain in hiring consultant for the giant Padma Bridge project.
ACC sources said, the Commission has already collected some references documents and copies of the witnesses’ statement given during the trial, which will help the ACC investigator complete his task.
“We’re examining the documents right now. The documents will help us accelerate our investigation into the Padma bridge graft case,” a senior official of the national anti-graft body told UNB wishing anonymity.
Five graft suspects, including Ramesh Shah and Abul Hasan Chowdhury, were facing trial in Canada, but a Canadian court recently halted the trial of Abul Hasan auguring that the court has no jurisdiction as he is a foreign citizen despite there was evidence of irregularities against him.
The court also said, if Canada could establish jurisdiction over the accused in the future, prosecution could appeal to the court seeking trial of Abul Hasan.
“The court has given a strategic order. It stayed the trial in doubt over the issue that does not mean he (Abul Hasan) has got relief from the court,” Commissioner Shahabuddin said adding that the court will further take decision about him.
Earlier, a case was filed with a court in Canada in connection with the Padma Bridge graft and its hearing continues there. The hearing in Canadian court began in April 2013.
On May 20, 2013, a two-member ACC team – its chief legal adviser, Advocate Anisul Huq and deputy director Mirza Zahidul Alam – went to Canada to be present at the hearing of the Canadian court and collect evidence. Later, in November 2013, Advocate Anisul Huq had been in Canada to collect information and documents related to the Padma Bridge corruption conspiracy case.
During their visits to Canada, the ACC tried to collect the copy of Ramesh’s diary and interrogate Mohammad Ismail, Ramesh Shah and Kevin Wallace (three key graft suspects facing trial in Canadian court), but the ACC failed to do so, the ACC sources said.
The accused in the Padma bridge graft case are former secretary of Bridge Division Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan (now member of Privatization Board), superintendent engineer (river control) of Bangladesh Bridge Authority Kazi M Ferdous, executing engineer (bridge construction and maintenance) of Roads and Highways Department M Riaz Ahmed Zaber, deputy managing director of Engineer and Planning Consultant Limited Mohammad Mustafa, former director (international project division) of SNC LavalinInc Mohammad Ismail, former vice president (international project division) of SNC Lavalin Ramesh Shah and former vice-president of SNC Lavalin Kevin Wallace.
SNC Lavalin is a Canadian consultancy firm, which participated in bidding process to have works in the Padma Bridge project.
