ACC likely to submit charge sheet today

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is likely to submit the charge sheet in the graft case involving Gatco today by showing 12 persons including six former ministers, so far indicted in the case and not arrested yet, as fugitive.
The persons who have already been detained and are in jail in connection with other cases will also be shown arrested in connection with the case.
Out of the 24 accused in the case, 12 persons including prime accused former premier Khleda Zia and her younger son Arafat Rahman Koko are now in jail while the rest are not arrested yet.
The persons not arrested yet include former finance minister M Saifur Rahman, former LGRD minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, former land minister M Shamsul Islam, former agriculture minister MK Anwar, former commerce minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, and former industries minister and Jamaat-e-Islami leader Motiur Rahman Nizami.
Others who are not arrested yet are former shipping secretary Zulfikar Haider Chowdhury, former member of Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) AK Rashid Uddin Ahmed, Gatco directors Shahjahan M Hasib, AKM Musa Kajol, Ehsan Yusuf and former shipping minister and BNP leader Col (retd) Akbar Hossain's wife Jahanara Ansar.
ACC Director General (Admin) Col Hanif Iqbal during a routine press briefing told the press about the situation while replying to a question about those indicted in the charge sheet and not arrested yet.
“The persons who are already detained and currently in jail will be shown arrested in connection with the case. Those who are not arrested will be shown as fugitives,” said Hanif.
“Graft is a cognisable offence and there is provision for arresting accused in a graft case after submission of charge sheet. And you know what would be the next steps after submission of the charge sheet,” Hanif added.
Replying to another question Hanif said submission of the charge sheet is being delayed for routine work.
Sources in ACC said those not arrested yet would be mentioned as people who are not arrested yet in the charge sheet before submission.
The persons already detained include former state minister for energy AKM Mosharraf Hossain, former agriculture minister MK Anwar, former CPA chairmen Commodore (retd) Zulfiqur Ali, AMM Shahadat Hossain, former CPA director (transport) AM Sanwar Hossain, former chief finance and accounts officer Ahmed Abul Qashem, former director Luthful Kabir, Ismail Hossain Simon--son of former shipping minister and BNP leader Col (retd) Akbar Hossain, Gatco directors Syed Galib Ahmed, and Syed Tanveer Ahmed.
The ACC approved the charge sheet in the case on May 8, more than six months after the probe report was submitted. Seven names were dropped from the investigation report.
ACC Deputy Director Johirul Huda is expected to submit the charge sheet today. The charge sheet will be submitted to the trial court soon under sections 409 and 109 of the penal code, section 15 of the Emergency Power Rules 2007, and section 5(2) of the Corruption Prevention Act 1947.
The ACC filed the case on September 2 last year against Khaleda, Koko and 11 others. Khaleda and Koko were arrested by joint forces the following day.