Money Embezzlers: Posthumous trials should be held

The High Court yesterday expressed disappointment and anger over incidents of corruption and money laundering, saying those who die after embezzling state money, committing corruption and money laundering should be tried posthumously.

When making this observation, the HC wanted to know from government authorities concerned and the Anti-Corruption Commission how Proshanta Kumar Halder could flee the country even after an order was passed to confiscate his passport.

While hearing a suo moto (voluntary) rule, the court also asked the authorities to submit within a month a list of the names of immigration officials who were on duty on the day PK Halder left the country.

The ACC has been asked to submit a report explaining steps taken against persons whose names were disclosed in the confessional statements made by the accused in corruption cases filed against PK Halder and others.

The HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Mohi Uddin Shamim passed the order while hearing a suo moto rule issued by it questioning the inaction of the authorities concerned in arresting PK Halder and bringing him back to the country.

ACC lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan told The Daily Star there is no criminal law in the country for posthumous trial of offenders, but the HC may issue a guideline in this regard.

Issuing the suo moto rule, the HC bench on November 18 last year wanted to know what steps have been taken to arrest PK Halder, who fled the country after allegedly siphoning around Tk 10,200 crore from some non-banking financial institutions, and to bring him back to the country.

Yesterday, the bench gave a month's time to Bangladesh Bank to submit a report explaining why its officials concerned have failed to detect and prevent irregularities, corruption and money laundering and what steps have been taken against them.

The bench fixed March 15 for further hearing on the issue.

On January 21, BB was directed to provide the names, status and addresses of the officers who were working in departments concerned in BB between January 1, 2008 and January 1, 2020, and to submit a report explaining why they failed to detect and prevent the irregularities, illegalities, corruption and money laundering offences for so long.

Yesterday, BB's lawyer Khan Md Shamim Aziz asked the HC for two months' time to submit the report and list saying they received the HC order on February 11.

Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin Manik represented the state.