Evidence key to case: ACC Chairman

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) chairman Ghulam Rahman on Wednesday defended his institution against the World Bank report reiterating that Syed Abul Hossain was not accused in the Padma graft case because credible information was not found against him.

He said the World Bank was asking to name Abul Hossain merely based on suspicion.

“They (WB) made a lot of hue and cry over some important personalities like Mashiur Rahman asking them to be named as accused in the case. They were not named because we found no evidence against them,” he said while reacting to the World Bank report.

“He (Abul Hossain) was heading the ministry. They (WB) said that nothing would have happened without his consent – so they want him named accused.”

Former Communication Minister Syed Abul Hossain arrives at the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) headquarters on Monday afternoon to face questions for a second time over allegations of corruption in the Padma bridge project. Photo: bdnews24.com/ Dhaka, Dec 03, 2012

“But I would stress again that without prima facie evidence, none can be booked, I just cannot accuse anyone formally based on World Bank’s allegations,” he said.

The Chairman reaffirmed that there has been no evidence of corruption in the Padma bridge project, except for the fact that SNC Lavalin tried to lure officials with bribes to get the project's consultancy.

“Some may have been tempted, but to imagine that everybody in the Ministry would fall for the bribes is not hardly logical, ” Rahman said.

This was the last media briefing of Ghulam Rahman as ACC Chairman as he steps down on Jun 23.

During the briefing, he admitted to legal limitations in ACC's functioning.

“When I took charge four years back, I said ACC was a toothless tiger. I cannot say that situation has improved much now.”

“Legal limitations and the long trials combine to deny us much success.”

He had taken office on Jun 23, 2009.

Earlier on Tuesday, World Bank published a report of their investigation into the Padma graft charges on their website.

The report pulled up the ACC for dropping the name of former Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain from the list of accused.

The report termed ACC investigation incomplete and unfair.