Money laundering: HC asks govt, ACC to submit documents on PK Halder

The High Court today observed that all the corrupt and money launderers including Proshanta Kumar Halder must be brought to the book and they cannot be spared.

The government agencies concerned are bound to protect the public properties in accordance with the law and constitution, the court said.

The HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Ahmed Sohel came up with the observation while virtually hearing a suo muto (voluntary) rule issued by it questioning the inaction of authorities concerned in arresting PK Halder and bringing him back to the country.

The bench asked the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and government to submit to this court by December 9the documents of issuing arrest warrant against PK Halder by a lower court, confiscating his assets and cases filed against him.

The court also fixed December 9 for holding further hearing and passing order on this issue.

During the hearing, ACC's lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan told the HC bench that the commission has applied to the Interpol through the home ministry to arrest PK Halder.

The Interpol has sought an order of the court, issuing arrest warrant against PK Halder and accordingly, the ACC has applied to a senior special judge's court in Dhaka to issue an arrest warrant against PK Halder,  he said, adding that the ACC is yet to receive the order of arrest warrant from the Dhaka court.

Khurshid Alam Khan also said the authorities concerned have confiscated 53 bank accounts and unmovable property worth Tk 43 crore of PK Halder.

Issuing the suo muto rule, the HC bench on November 18 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.