A Dhaka court today ordered the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to freeze 4,115,412 euro invested in Luxembourg by Summit Group Chairman Mohammed Aziz Khan and his family in connection with corruption allegations brought against them.
Judge Md Zakir Hossain of Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge’s Court passed the order after ACC Deputy Director Alamgir Hossain, who is leading the inquiry team, submitted an application.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star’s Google News channel. In the application, the ACC official said that an inquiry is ongoing regarding the allegations brought against Summit Group and its associates involving the acquisition of illegal assets through bribery and corruption.
According to the information obtained during the inquiry, the ACC found the investment in Luxembourg in the name of Aziz Khan and his associates (individuals and organisations).
As per the source, it was informed that the investment was temporarily blocked for a period of three months by authorities in Luxembourg. If an International Letter Rogatory/Mutual Legal Assistance on Criminal Matters Request is not issued within the stipulated time, the freezing order will be withdrawn, the application added.
Moreover, according to the source, as per the law in Luxembourg, any person entitled to the assets under the freezing order or any professional affected by it may request its withdrawal from the Judge’s Council Chamber of the Luxembourg District Court, the application added.
So, an order is needed to freeze the amount invested in Luxembourg for the sake of a fair inquiry into the allegations brought against the accused.
The court also ordered the ACC to send a copy of the order to “The State Prosecutor General, Luxembourgish, Parquet general du Grand-duche de Luxembourg Cite Judiciaire L-2080, Luxembourg” to freeze the laundered moveable property immediately to protect the right of Bangladesh.
Earlier on March 9, the same court ordered the ACC to freeze 191 bank accounts of Mohammed Aziz Khan and his family members in connection with corruption allegations.
Aziz Khan is among the top 50 influential businessmen in Singapore.
