Some officials of the Ministry of Forests were charged after more than 12 years for giving more compensation money for trees on land acquired by RAJUK. The money reportedly defalcated was little more than Tk 3 crore according to the FIR.
Last Sunday at about midnight, some 12 police and ACC officials went to the house of an accused in Dhaka. The family members do not want to disclose any name to be published for fear of antagonizing them further.
The daughter of the accused who is a third year University Student told them of the Supreme Court’s order requiring them to surrender before the Sessions Judge of Dhaka. They attached no importance and refused to see the Supreme Court’s order. She was also threatened to be taken with them if she talked too much.
When the accused was about to be handcuffed his daughter had to touch the feet of an officer begging weepingly not to put handcuffs to humiliate her father. She also told them her father was a heart patient. It was not necessary to be harsh with him.
Earlier, facing the criminal charge brought by Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), the concerned officials obtained an order from their Lordships of the Appellate Division of the Hon’ble Supreme Court directing them to surrender before the Sessions Judge, Dhaka so that they could not be subjected to arrest in Narayangonj. The officials expressed fear of ACC officials’ attempt to arrest. The order was to “surrender for bail”.
The truth of the report prepared by ACC showing more trees on the land makes the payment controversial, is now subject matter of a pending suit. In that suit, the Court issued injunction restraining the ACC to proceed with the corruption case till the decision about the genuineness of the report was established.
By the ferocity of the ACC officials to arrest him for such minor allegation of corruption, it is suspected that some enmity somewhere is working.
The ACC participated in the suit proceeding and has the knowledge that the High Court Division upheld the lower court’s order of injunction. The matter is still pending before the High Court Division.
Firstly, violating the injunction order, the concerned ACC officials started the criminal proceeding against the accused by filing FIR.
Thus the officials not only violated injunction but deliberately interfered with the Supreme Court order asking the accused to surrender to lower court for bail.
The Supreme Court recently issued a long list of guidelines for the law enforcing agencies requiring them among, other things, to respect and protect one’s dignity when dealing with an alleged accused. Handcuffs are used when the accused is dangerous and the crime is serious one. But the present accused is a government servant and offence of corruption is highly doubtful.
Many people believe that there are some black-ships among law enforcing agencies who think our people are helpless and they are free to do whatever they want. Though they are law-enforcers but think they are above law. The complaint of police excess is too widespread not to take seriously.
It is learned that the lawyer of the accused has notified the matter to the Chairman of the Anti Corruption Commission.
