High Court Division :
(Criminal Miscellaneous Jurisdiction)
M Enayetur Rahim J
Shahidul Karim J
Abdus Salam … Petitioner
vs
State and another ………
……… Opposite Parties
Judgment
May 24th, 2017
Anti-Corruption Commission Act (V of 20(04)
Section 2(O)
Corruption-Whatever amendment is made in the definition of “????????? ??????” in the Money Laundering Ain, 2012, the Commission is not precluded from making inquiry and investigation relating to the offence of any kind o? “????????” under the Money Laundering Act, 2012 besides other investigation agencies, including this particular case.
In “????????? ????? ??????” ????????? ?? “????? ???????” ??? ???? “??????” ?????: “????????? ??????; Am`vPiY| According to law of lexicon, the word corrupt or illegal means- The juxta-position of the word “otherwise”, with the words “corrupt or illegal means”. According to Oxford English Dictionary, the word ‘corrupt’ means-willing to act dishonestly in return for money or personal gain. Thus, the meaning of the word “????????” (corrupt) is very wide and it has far reaching effect. (22, 18, 19, 20 & 21)
Dr Shahdeen Malik, Advocate-For the Petitioner.
Md Khurshid Alam Khan, Advocate-For the Opposite-Parry No.2 Anti-Corruption Commission.
Judgment
M Enayetur Rahim J: This Rule was issued calling upon the opposite parties to show cause as to why the accused petitioner should not be enlarged on bail in ACC GR Case No. 196 of 2016 arising out of Tejgaon Police Station Case No.26(4)16 dated 13-4-2016 under Section 4(2) and 4(3) of the Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2012, now pending in the Court of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Dhaka and/or such other or further order or orders passed as to this Court may seem fit and proper.
2. At the instance of Anti-Corruption Commission Tejgaon Police Station Case No.26 dated 13-4-2016 under Section 4(2)(3) of the Money Laundering Protirodh Ain, 2012 is started against the present accused petitioner.
3. In the FIR it is alleged that the accused petitioner, the former Chairman of Ekusey Television Ltd, being in jail custody, gave power of authority to his younger brother Ashraful Alam, Managing Director of Ekushey Television Ltd. to operate Bank Account on his behalf. As per the desire of the accused Petitioner the Managing Director, Ashraful Alam withdrew Taka 26,70,000 (taka twenty six lac seventy thousand) by putting his signature in Cheque No. 3043180 dated 26-1-2015 of Premier Bank Ltd, Kawran Bazar Branch for the purpose of buying Euro. The same amount was adjusted as loan in favour of former Chairman Abdus Salam. As per direction of the former Chairman Abdus Salam, the Managing Director purchased 30,000 (thirty thousand) Euro, out of which 10,000 (ten thousand) Euro was transferred to one ‘Kakon’ nephew of Abdus Salam, who lives in Germany, and rest 20,000 (Twenty thousand) Euro was retained in the residence of one Fazlur Rahman Shikder, Senior Manager (Finance), Ekushey Television Ltd. which was for security reasons kept in the house of the mother-in-law of Fazlur Rahman Shikder.
On 31-12-2015 in presence of the witnesses, RAB-10 recovered and seized the said 20,000 (twenty thousand) Euro from the house of the mother-in-law of Fazlur Rahman Shikder.
4. The accused petitioner was shown arrested in the case on 28-4-2016 and till date no report under Section 173 of the Code of Criminal Procedure has been submitted.
5. Heard Mr Dr Shahdeen Malik, the learned Advocate appearing for the accused petitioner, perused the First Information Report and other materials placed before us.
6. Mr Md Khurshid Alam Khan, the learned Advocate appearing for the opposite party Anti-Corrupt on Commission opposes the prayer for bail submitting that the allegation brought against the accused petitioner is serious in nature.
7. Having considered the submissions of the learned Advocate for the accused petitioner that at the relevant time of the alleged occurrence the accused petitioner was in jail hajat in connection with another case, and that admittedly the alleged foreign currencies were not recovered from the possession of the present accused petitioner and he had no involvement in withdrawing the money from the bank and to convert the same into Euro, and that the accused has been languishing in jail hajat since 28-4-2016, and that the investigating agency has failed to submit report under Section 173 of the Code of Criminal Procedure within the statutory period which has already been expired long before, we are inclined to enlarge the accused petitioner on bail.
8. Before parting with the case we like to address an issue as submitted by Mr Khurshid Alam Khan, the learned Advocate for the Anti corruption Commission as to the cause of delay in submitting the chargesheet, according to him, the Commission is examining the recent amendment of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004 (hereinafter referred to as Act of 2004) and the Money laundering Protirodh Ain, 2012 to determine its jurisdiction with regard to the investigation of the offences under the Money Laundering Act, 2012.
9. Before the amendment of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004 made in 2016 by Act of 21 of 2016, the Commission had the exclusive jurisdiction to investigate any offence under the Money Laundering Protirodh Ain. But after the amendment of the schedule of the Act of 2004 the Commission has given power to investigate the following offences only:
“(?) ???????????? ???????? ??? ???? (???? ???? ??? ???) ?? ???? ??? ? ???????? ????????? ??????????” underlines supplied)
10. Similarly, definition of “????????? ??????” as contemplated in the Money Laundering Protirodh Ain, 2012 has also been amended in 2015 (Act 25 of 2015) which runs as follows:
“(?) ??? (?) ?? ???????? ???????? ??? (?) ???????????? ????, ????-
(?) ????????? ?????? ???? ?? ????? ???? ??? ?????? ???????? ??? ???? ?? ??????
(?) ??? (?) ? ?????? ???????? ????? ??????? ???? ????????? ???? ????????????? ????????? ???????
??? ???? ???? ??, ?? ??? ???????? ????? ???????? ????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ???????? ??????? ????? ????? ????? ( ???????? ????????????? ??????????) ?????? ????? ????? ???? ?
(?) ??????? ???? ???????????? ???????? ?????????????? ???????????? ????? ?????? ????????????? ??-??? (?) ? ???????? ?? ?? ?????? ????????? ?????? ;”
11. Prior to the said amendment the ÒZ`šÍKvix ms????” was defined in the following manner:
“(?) ?????????? ?????? ???? ???????? ??? ????? ???, ???? (???? ???? ??? ???) ?? ???? ???? ???????? ??? ?????; ??? ??????? ???? ???? ??????? ????????? ????????????? ??????? ??? ????????? ?? ???? ???? ???? ????? ????? ?? ???, ???? ??? ????????? ??????? ?????????? ???? ??????????? ????? ;”
12. At present, Commission is only emprowed to investigate the offences relating to “??? ? ???????? ?????????” under the Money Laundering Protirodh Ain, 2012.
13. As per submission of Mr Khan, the Commission is now examining the law whether it can submit chargesheet in this particular case in view of the above amendment of the law.
14. The word “????????” has been defined in the Anti-Corruption Act, 2004 in the following manner:
“?(?) ???????? ???? ?? ????? ?????? ????????
15. But in the Money Laundering Protirodh Ain, 2012 there is no definition of the word Ò`ybx©wZÓ though the Commission has been given power to investigate the offences relating to “??? ? ???????? ????????? ????? ????” under the above Ain of 2012.
16. The jurisdiction, aim and object of the Anti-Corruption Commission have been mentioned in Section 17 of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004, which run as follows:
??? ??????? ??????????– ????? ??????????? ??? ?? ?? ??? ???????????? ????? ??????, ???? —
(?) ??????? ???????? ??????????? ????????? ? ????? ???????? ;
(?) ???????? (?) ?? ???? ????????? ? ????? ???????? ???????? ?? ????? ???? ????? ????? ? ????????”
(?) ???????? ????????? ??? ?????? ?????????? ?? ??????????? ??????? ?? ????? ????? ???? ??? ??????? ????”? ???????? ??????? ???????? ????????? ;
(?) ???????? ??? ????? ??? ?????? ??????? ?????? ?? ??? ??????? ???? ??? ;
(?) ???????? ?????????? ???? ??? ????? ???? ??????? ?????????? ?????????? ??? ???? ??????? ????????? ?????????? ??? ??????? ??????????? ???? ??????????? ???? ??????? ??? ??? ;
(?) ???????? ?????????? ????? ?????? ????????? ???? ??? ??? ?????????? ??????? ???????? ????? ???????? ??????????? ???? ??????? ??? ??? ;
(?) ???????? ?????????? ??????? ???? ? ????????? ?????? ??? ???
(?) ??????? ????????? ?? ????????? ????? ??? ??? ??? ?????? ??? ???????, ???????????, ???????? ??????? ?????????? ????¯’? ??? ;
(?) ????-?????? ??¯’?? ?????????? ????????? ???????? ??????? ?????? ????????? ??? ??????? ??? ??? ????????? ????????? ???????? ??????? ???? ??????????? ???? ??????? ??? ??? ;
(?) ????????? ?????????, ????? ????? ????? ??? ??????? ?????????, ????? ? ????? ??????? ???????? ??????? ??????? ?????? ???????? ??? ; ???
(?) ???????? ?????????? ???? ????????? ??????? ???? ?? ??? ????? ?????? ????”
(underlines supplied to give emphasis)
17. If we consider the above aims and objects of the Anti-Corruption Commission as completed in Section 17, in particular 17(ga) and 17(ta), of the Anti-Corruption Act, 2004 we have no hesitation to hold that to prevent “????????” (corruption/corrupt) the Commission has got the unfettered power to make any enquiry, investigation and to take necessary actions/steps in accordance with law as it thinks fit and proper in any form of “????????”
18. In Òe¨envwiK evsjv AwfavbÓ published by “????? ???????” the word “????????” means : bxwZiæ× KzbxwZ ; Am`vPib|
19. According to law of lexicon, the word corrupt or illegal means- The juxta-position of the word “otherwise”, with the words “corrupt or illegal means”.
20. According to Oxford English Dictionary, the word ‘corrupt’ means- willing to act dishonestly in return for money or personal gain.
21. Thus, the meaning of the word “????????” (corrupt) is very wide and it has far reaching effect.
22. Having considered as above, we are constrained to hold that whatever amendment is made in the definition of ÒZ`šÍKvix ms¯’vÓ in the Money Laundering Ain, 2012, the Commission is not precluded from making inquiry and investigation relating to the offence of any kind of “????????” under the Money Laundering Act, 2012 besides other investigation agencies, including this particular case.
23. Accordingly, the Rule is made absolute.
24. Let accused petitioner Abdus Salam be enlarged on ad-interim bail in the above mentioned case on furnishing bail bond subject to the satisfaction of the learned Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Dhaka .
25. However, the tourt bdow is at liberty to cancel the bail of the accused petitioner at any stage of the case, if he misuses the privilege of bail in any manner in accordance with law.
26. Communicate the judgment and order at once to the Court concerned as well as the
Chairman, Anti-Corruption Commission for information and necessary actions at his end.
(Criminal Miscellaneous Jurisdiction)
M Enayetur Rahim J
Shahidul Karim J
Abdus Salam … Petitioner
vs
State and another ………
……… Opposite Parties
Judgment
May 24th, 2017
Anti-Corruption Commission Act (V of 20(04)
Section 2(O)
Corruption-Whatever amendment is made in the definition of “????????? ??????” in the Money Laundering Ain, 2012, the Commission is not precluded from making inquiry and investigation relating to the offence of any kind o? “????????” under the Money Laundering Act, 2012 besides other investigation agencies, including this particular case.
In “????????? ????? ??????” ????????? ?? “????? ???????” ??? ???? “??????” ?????: “????????? ??????; Am`vPiY| According to law of lexicon, the word corrupt or illegal means- The juxta-position of the word “otherwise”, with the words “corrupt or illegal means”. According to Oxford English Dictionary, the word ‘corrupt’ means-willing to act dishonestly in return for money or personal gain. Thus, the meaning of the word “????????” (corrupt) is very wide and it has far reaching effect. (22, 18, 19, 20 & 21)
Dr Shahdeen Malik, Advocate-For the Petitioner.
Md Khurshid Alam Khan, Advocate-For the Opposite-Parry No.2 Anti-Corruption Commission.
Judgment
M Enayetur Rahim J: This Rule was issued calling upon the opposite parties to show cause as to why the accused petitioner should not be enlarged on bail in ACC GR Case No. 196 of 2016 arising out of Tejgaon Police Station Case No.26(4)16 dated 13-4-2016 under Section 4(2) and 4(3) of the Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2012, now pending in the Court of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Dhaka and/or such other or further order or orders passed as to this Court may seem fit and proper.
2. At the instance of Anti-Corruption Commission Tejgaon Police Station Case No.26 dated 13-4-2016 under Section 4(2)(3) of the Money Laundering Protirodh Ain, 2012 is started against the present accused petitioner.
3. In the FIR it is alleged that the accused petitioner, the former Chairman of Ekusey Television Ltd, being in jail custody, gave power of authority to his younger brother Ashraful Alam, Managing Director of Ekushey Television Ltd. to operate Bank Account on his behalf. As per the desire of the accused Petitioner the Managing Director, Ashraful Alam withdrew Taka 26,70,000 (taka twenty six lac seventy thousand) by putting his signature in Cheque No. 3043180 dated 26-1-2015 of Premier Bank Ltd, Kawran Bazar Branch for the purpose of buying Euro. The same amount was adjusted as loan in favour of former Chairman Abdus Salam. As per direction of the former Chairman Abdus Salam, the Managing Director purchased 30,000 (thirty thousand) Euro, out of which 10,000 (ten thousand) Euro was transferred to one ‘Kakon’ nephew of Abdus Salam, who lives in Germany, and rest 20,000 (Twenty thousand) Euro was retained in the residence of one Fazlur Rahman Shikder, Senior Manager (Finance), Ekushey Television Ltd. which was for security reasons kept in the house of the mother-in-law of Fazlur Rahman Shikder.
On 31-12-2015 in presence of the witnesses, RAB-10 recovered and seized the said 20,000 (twenty thousand) Euro from the house of the mother-in-law of Fazlur Rahman Shikder.
4. The accused petitioner was shown arrested in the case on 28-4-2016 and till date no report under Section 173 of the Code of Criminal Procedure has been submitted.
5. Heard Mr Dr Shahdeen Malik, the learned Advocate appearing for the accused petitioner, perused the First Information Report and other materials placed before us.
6. Mr Md Khurshid Alam Khan, the learned Advocate appearing for the opposite party Anti-Corrupt on Commission opposes the prayer for bail submitting that the allegation brought against the accused petitioner is serious in nature.
7. Having considered the submissions of the learned Advocate for the accused petitioner that at the relevant time of the alleged occurrence the accused petitioner was in jail hajat in connection with another case, and that admittedly the alleged foreign currencies were not recovered from the possession of the present accused petitioner and he had no involvement in withdrawing the money from the bank and to convert the same into Euro, and that the accused has been languishing in jail hajat since 28-4-2016, and that the investigating agency has failed to submit report under Section 173 of the Code of Criminal Procedure within the statutory period which has already been expired long before, we are inclined to enlarge the accused petitioner on bail.
8. Before parting with the case we like to address an issue as submitted by Mr Khurshid Alam Khan, the learned Advocate for the Anti corruption Commission as to the cause of delay in submitting the chargesheet, according to him, the Commission is examining the recent amendment of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004 (hereinafter referred to as Act of 2004) and the Money laundering Protirodh Ain, 2012 to determine its jurisdiction with regard to the investigation of the offences under the Money Laundering Act, 2012.
9. Before the amendment of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004 made in 2016 by Act of 21 of 2016, the Commission had the exclusive jurisdiction to investigate any offence under the Money Laundering Protirodh Ain. But after the amendment of the schedule of the Act of 2004 the Commission has given power to investigate the following offences only:
“(?) ???????????? ???????? ??? ???? (???? ???? ??? ???) ?? ???? ??? ? ???????? ????????? ??????????” underlines supplied)
10. Similarly, definition of “????????? ??????” as contemplated in the Money Laundering Protirodh Ain, 2012 has also been amended in 2015 (Act 25 of 2015) which runs as follows:
“(?) ??? (?) ?? ???????? ???????? ??? (?) ???????????? ????, ????-
(?) ????????? ?????? ???? ?? ????? ???? ??? ?????? ???????? ??? ???? ?? ??????
(?) ??? (?) ? ?????? ???????? ????? ??????? ???? ????????? ???? ????????????? ????????? ???????
??? ???? ???? ??, ?? ??? ???????? ????? ???????? ????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ???????? ??????? ????? ????? ????? ( ???????? ????????????? ??????????) ?????? ????? ????? ???? ?
(?) ??????? ???? ???????????? ???????? ?????????????? ???????????? ????? ?????? ????????????? ??-??? (?) ? ???????? ?? ?? ?????? ????????? ?????? ;”
11. Prior to the said amendment the ÒZ`šÍKvix ms????” was defined in the following manner:
“(?) ?????????? ?????? ???? ???????? ??? ????? ???, ???? (???? ???? ??? ???) ?? ???? ???? ???????? ??? ?????; ??? ??????? ???? ???? ??????? ????????? ????????????? ??????? ??? ????????? ?? ???? ???? ???? ????? ????? ?? ???, ???? ??? ????????? ??????? ?????????? ???? ??????????? ????? ;”
12. At present, Commission is only emprowed to investigate the offences relating to “??? ? ???????? ?????????” under the Money Laundering Protirodh Ain, 2012.
13. As per submission of Mr Khan, the Commission is now examining the law whether it can submit chargesheet in this particular case in view of the above amendment of the law.
14. The word “????????” has been defined in the Anti-Corruption Act, 2004 in the following manner:
“?(?) ???????? ???? ?? ????? ?????? ????????
15. But in the Money Laundering Protirodh Ain, 2012 there is no definition of the word Ò`ybx©wZÓ though the Commission has been given power to investigate the offences relating to “??? ? ???????? ????????? ????? ????” under the above Ain of 2012.
16. The jurisdiction, aim and object of the Anti-Corruption Commission have been mentioned in Section 17 of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004, which run as follows:
??? ??????? ??????????– ????? ??????????? ??? ?? ?? ??? ???????????? ????? ??????, ???? —
(?) ??????? ???????? ??????????? ????????? ? ????? ???????? ;
(?) ???????? (?) ?? ???? ????????? ? ????? ???????? ???????? ?? ????? ???? ????? ????? ? ????????”
(?) ???????? ????????? ??? ?????? ?????????? ?? ??????????? ??????? ?? ????? ????? ???? ??? ??????? ????”? ???????? ??????? ???????? ????????? ;
(?) ???????? ??? ????? ??? ?????? ??????? ?????? ?? ??? ??????? ???? ??? ;
(?) ???????? ?????????? ???? ??? ????? ???? ??????? ?????????? ?????????? ??? ???? ??????? ????????? ?????????? ??? ??????? ??????????? ???? ??????????? ???? ??????? ??? ??? ;
(?) ???????? ?????????? ????? ?????? ????????? ???? ??? ??? ?????????? ??????? ???????? ????? ???????? ??????????? ???? ??????? ??? ??? ;
(?) ???????? ?????????? ??????? ???? ? ????????? ?????? ??? ???
(?) ??????? ????????? ?? ????????? ????? ??? ??? ??? ?????? ??? ???????, ???????????, ???????? ??????? ?????????? ????¯’? ??? ;
(?) ????-?????? ??¯’?? ?????????? ????????? ???????? ??????? ?????? ????????? ??? ??????? ??? ??? ????????? ????????? ???????? ??????? ???? ??????????? ???? ??????? ??? ??? ;
(?) ????????? ?????????, ????? ????? ????? ??? ??????? ?????????, ????? ? ????? ??????? ???????? ??????? ??????? ?????? ???????? ??? ; ???
(?) ???????? ?????????? ???? ????????? ??????? ???? ?? ??? ????? ?????? ????”
(underlines supplied to give emphasis)
17. If we consider the above aims and objects of the Anti-Corruption Commission as completed in Section 17, in particular 17(ga) and 17(ta), of the Anti-Corruption Act, 2004 we have no hesitation to hold that to prevent “????????” (corruption/corrupt) the Commission has got the unfettered power to make any enquiry, investigation and to take necessary actions/steps in accordance with law as it thinks fit and proper in any form of “????????”
18. In Òe¨envwiK evsjv AwfavbÓ published by “????? ???????” the word “????????” means : bxwZiæ× KzbxwZ ; Am`vPib|
19. According to law of lexicon, the word corrupt or illegal means- The juxta-position of the word “otherwise”, with the words “corrupt or illegal means”.
20. According to Oxford English Dictionary, the word ‘corrupt’ means- willing to act dishonestly in return for money or personal gain.
21. Thus, the meaning of the word “????????” (corrupt) is very wide and it has far reaching effect.
22. Having considered as above, we are constrained to hold that whatever amendment is made in the definition of ÒZ`šÍKvix ms¯’vÓ in the Money Laundering Ain, 2012, the Commission is not precluded from making inquiry and investigation relating to the offence of any kind of “????????” under the Money Laundering Act, 2012 besides other investigation agencies, including this particular case.
23. Accordingly, the Rule is made absolute.
24. Let accused petitioner Abdus Salam be enlarged on ad-interim bail in the above mentioned case on furnishing bail bond subject to the satisfaction of the learned Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Dhaka .
25. However, the tourt bdow is at liberty to cancel the bail of the accused petitioner at any stage of the case, if he misuses the privilege of bail in any manner in accordance with law.
26. Communicate the judgment and order at once to the Court concerned as well as the
Chairman, Anti-Corruption Commission for information and necessary actions at his end.
