On payroll, for no job
The law ministry suspended Mohammad Ali, a prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal, from all trial procedures in February last year. After the suspension, he did not get involved with any war crimes cases and never appeared before the tribunal.
But he has been withdrawing a monthly salary of more than Tk 1 lakh on a regular basis and using a government car with a driver, whose salary is being paid from the public exchequer. Apart from this, he has been availing police protection.
The law ministry suspended Ali on February 24 last year after the Chief Prosecutor Office of the tribunal wrote to the ministry seeking “necessary actions” against the prosecutor for “breaching discipline and code of conduct, and serious professional misconduct”.
On February 14, Ghulam Arieff Tipoo wrote to the ministry that Ali had “disobeyed” his assigned duties and tried to “exert illegal influence for securing bail for an accused in a case pending with the tribunal”.
Though the accused was not named in the letter, several prosecutors said it was Jatiya Party lawmaker MA Hannan, arrested in 2015 for his alleged crimes during the 1971 Liberation War. The tribunal, however, denied him bail on February 4 last year.
On that day, the Chief Prosecutor Office withdrew Ali until further notice from all the war crimes cases he was involved with. Mohammad Ali, however, denied all the allegations against him.
The Daily Star talked with at least four prosecutors on this matter. None of them, however, wanted to be named.
“He just comes to the prosecution [chief prosecutor office] to collect his cheques,” a prosecutor said. Ali enjoys the status of an addition attorney general.
“He receives all the facilities we avail. The difference is we have to deal with the cases but he doesn't,” another prosecutor said. The prosecutor said they receive Tk 1,11,560 as salary with risk allowance, Tk 10,000 as fuel cost, a government car, a driver paid by government and a policeman for security.
“Working as a prosecutor is not a permanent job. We are appointed to deal with the cases and get remuneration for this. So he [Ali] should not get salaries and other facilities as he is not dealing any cases,” the prosecutor said.
Another prosecutor said, “As he [Ali] is not dealing with any war crimes cases, only the law ministry will be able to give an answer as to why he is given the facilities.”
Contacted, Mohammad Ali said, “I am very much on the job.”
“I was just asked not to get involved with any case. Besides, I did not get any instructions from the ministry. So I am getting my salary and other benefits,” he told The Daily Star on May 17.
Replying to a question, he said, “I go to the office and am ready to deal with cases. But what can I do if I am not given any case.”
Law Minister Anisul Huq told this newspaper on Sunday, “He [Ali] was suspendered and was supposed to resign and go.”
“I am looking into the matter.”
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