Prof Rafiqul, family charged with amassing wealth illegally

The Anti-Corruption Corruption (ACC) yesterday pressed charges against detained former Awami League (AL) state minister for energy Prof Rafiqul Islam, his wife Nurunnahar Lily and their son Mostafa Ashish Islam in a case filed in connection with amassing wealth worth Tk 1 crore illegally and giving false wealth information to the commission.
Meanwhile, a Dhaka court allowed the ACC to interrogate detained AL former health minister Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim at the jail gate in a case filed in connection with amassing wealth through illegal means and concealing wealth information to the commission.
Another Dhaka court rejected the bail petition of detained AL state minister for planning Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir in a Tk 1-crore extortion case.
CASE AGAINST RAFIQ
ACC Assistant Director Mohammad Aminur Rahman, also the investigation officer (IO) of the case, submitted the charge sheet before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's (CMM) Court of Dhaka showing 23 people as prosecution witnesses.
The IO prayed for issuance of arrest warrants against Rafiq's wife and son and the order to attach their properties as they are absconding since the case was filed.
In the charge sheet, the IO said the charges brought against the three were primarily proved and they should be brought under trial.
On November 16 last year, ACC Deputy Director Monzur Morshed filed the case against them with Dhanmondi Police Station.
In the case statement, the complainant said Prof Rafiqul Islam submitted his wealth statements to the commission through jail authorities on July 25 last year.
In the statements, Rafiq showed his wealth worth Tk 74,38,804 but the IO found that he has wealth worth Tk 1,00 31,548 beyond known sources of his income and concealed to the commission wealth information of Tk 53,52,743.
Rafiq's wife and son were accused of abetting him acquire the illegal wealth.
CASE AGAINST SELIM
Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Golam Rabbani yesterday allowed the ACC to interrogate Selim after ACC Assistant Director Niru Shamsunnahar submitted a petition in this regard.
The court directed the IO to interrogate the accused on July 20 at the jail gate.
On April 23 this year, ACC Deputy Director Abdul Karim filed the case against Selim with Ramna Police Station in connection with accumulating wealth worth Tk 3,38,73,140 through illegal means and concealing wealth information to the commission.
The complainant in the case said Selim concealed information of wealth worth over Tk 22.39 lakh in his wealth statement submitted to the ACC and amassed wealth worth over Tk 3.38 crore illegally.
Selim submitted his wealth statement on July 22, 2007, declaring wealth worth Tk 5,13,98,000.
CASE AGAINST ALAMGIR
Judge Mohammad Azizul Haque of the Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court yesterday denied bail to Alamgir after the defence lawyers filed a petition against the rejection order of a lower court.
On October 10 last year, Abdul Monem, managing director of Abdul Monem Ltd, filed the case against Alamgir with Gulshan Police Station accusing him of extorting Tk 1 crore from him on two dates through two cheques.
Alamgir, arrested February 4 last year, was earlier sentenced to 13 years' imprisonment for amassing wealth through illegal means and concealing wealth information to the ACC.