Golden Monir’s Corruption Saga: Case finally making headway after 8yrs
Eight years ago, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed a corruption case against Monir Hossain alias 'Golden Monir' for amassing wealth illegally but the trial did not see any progress.
Meantime, Monir continued to amass more wealth until Rab arrested him last month. After the arrest, he was headlined for amassing illegal wealth of over Tk 1,000 crore.
On March 13, 2012, the ACC filed a graft case against him for amassing wealth illegally. In the investigation, which was approved yesterday, it was found Monir amassed about Tk 3.1 crore illegally between 1989 and 2009.
"There was not much headway in the case. Monir filed writ at the High Court and the case was stayed," sources said.
The ACC began probe after the HC lifted the stay. But the case's progress stumbled once again as the charge of investigation kept being handed over from one officer to another.
At last ACC's Deputy Director Mosharof Hossain Mridha was assigned to investigate the case about one-and-a-half years ago.
Source said to dodge investigation, Monir in his wealth statement in 2009 claimed of getting Tk 1.61 crore as gift from different persons.
"It's a baseless claim. He actually did not get the money as gift rather he accumulated it illegally," he said.
Besides, the investigation officer found another illegal wealth worth Tk 1.5 crore possessed by Monir.
Completing the probe, the investigation officer submitted his report and got approval from the commission yesterday.
Monir was arrested by Rab during a drive last month, with 600 tola (about 7 kilograms) of gold ornaments, Tk 1.09 crore in cash and five SUVs. According to the law enforcement agency, Monir amassed wealth worth over Tk 1,050 crore through forging Rajuk documents, gold smuggling and other crimes, and owns at least 200 plots in Badda, Nikunja, and other areas of the city and also in Keraniganj.
The anti-graft watchdog was alerted due to these, and led a separate enquiry and primarily found that the accused possesses wealth over Tk 600 crore.
On November 26, ACC issued notice asking Monir to submit the wealth statements and information about his own and dependants' movable and immovable properties as well as the undeclared properties that they have acquired since 2009.
Since the 2012 case was on the wealth amassed before June 2009, in the latest notice, the ACC has asked him to submit wealth statement from July 2009 to date.
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