ACC prosecutes former minister Dipu Moni, her husband over 'illicit assets'

The Anti-Corruption Commission has accused the couple of amassing Tk 80 million in 'illegal assets' and 'suspicious' transactions worth Tk 600 million

The Anti-Corruption Commission, or ACC, has prosecuted former social welfare minister Dipu Moni and her husband over allegations of acquiring nearly Tk 80 million in illegal assets and engaging in suspicious transactions worth Tk 600 million.

Two cases were lodged on Monday, according to ACC Director General Md Akhter Hossain.

In the first case, Dipu Moni, a former MP from Chandpur-3, has been accused of abusing her official position to unlawfully amass Tk 59.2 million in assets inconsistent with her known sources of income.

The ACC also flagged "suspicious" transactions totalling Tk 597.9 million in 28 bank accounts under her name.

The second case names both Dipu Moni and her husband Taufiq Nawaz as defendants.

The ACC alleges that the couple colluded in abusing power, bribery, and corruption to acquire Tk 19.6 million in “illegal” assets.

They have been charged under Section 27(1) of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004, and Sections 4(2) and 4(3) of the Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2012.

Law enforcers arrested Awami League Joint General Secretary Dipu Moni on Aug 19, 2024.

A month earlier, on Jul 18, she and her elder brother JR Wadud Tipu were named in a case over an attack, vandalism, looting, and arson at the residence of Chandpur BNP President Sheikh Farid Ahmed Manik.

The ACC initiated its investigation into Dipu Moni’s assets in August 2023 following the shift in power.

Authorities have frozen the bank accounts of Dipu Moni, her husband, and her brother, while transactions linked to their businesses have also been suspended.