Graft by ex-judge: ACC to quiz two court stenos

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An investigation team of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) summoned two stenographers of a speedy trial tribunal and a special judge court to appear in the commission’s head quarters today (Thursday), ACC sources said.
They will be interrogated about the wealth and properties of former Judge Motahar Hossain, who acquitted BNP’s Senior Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman in a money laundering case on November 17 last year. He retired from his service in December 2013. The stenographers were maintaining their duties in the court where Motahar was on duty.
The team leader Deputy Director Harun-Or-Rashid sent notices to Mohammad Abu Hasan, stenographer of Speedy Trial Tribunal-4, and Mohammad Nurul Islam, stenographer of Special Judge Court-3.
The team started the investigation into the complaint raised against retired judge of the lower court from Tuesday.
On Monday, Harun-Or-Rashid has been asked to find out whether retired judge Motahar Hossain accumulated wealth and properties beyond his means.
ACC has meanwhile alerted the authorities concerned against Motahar’s sneaking from the country through land ports, seaport and airports. When contacted, Harun-or-Rashid told The New Nation that he had already started investigation.
According to the ACC, the commission received specific allegations against him two weeks ago. The anti-graft organisation used its sources to gather reports about the judge.
On receipt of information from sources, the commission came up with the decision of investigation, an official seeking anonymity told this reporter, adding, “There is a dissimilarity between his apparent assets and income”.
The complaint includes laundering of a big amount of money abroad, a residential quarter in London and two apartments in the Dhanmondi R.A. area in the city. Besides, he purchased 50 bigahs of land in different names in his own village in the district of Natore.

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