ACC to prosecute former RCC mayor Khairuzzaman Liton, his family over ‘illicit wealth’

He and his family have been accused of owning Tk 290 million in illicit wealth in three cases

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is preparing to initiate three cases against Awami League presidium member and former Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton, his wife Shaheen Akhtar and daughter Anika Fariha Zaman for amassing “illicit wealth” amounting to Tk 290 million.

He has been in hiding since the political changeover. The ACC named him in all three cases.

The cases have already been greenlit by the anti-graft agency, the commission’s Director General Akhtar Hossain said on Tuesday.

In the first case, Liton was accused of accumulating “assets beyond his legal source of income” worth Tk 103.5 million by abusing power.

In addition, the ACC has detected “suspicious transactions” equivalent to Tk 762.9 million in 12 bank accounts tied to him.

Alongside Liton, his wife Shaheen has also been named in the second case.

The commission alleges that she acquired “illicit wealth” worth Tk 114.1 million through bribery and corruption with the assistance of her husband.

“Suspicious transactions” worth Tk 762.9 million have been found in 13 bank accounts held in her name.

Liton and his daughter Anika have been accused in the third case.

According to the complaint, she owned Tk 68 million in “wealth beyond means” with the help of her father.

The ACC also accused her of making “suspicious transactions” amounting to Tk 24.4 million across five bank accounts held in her name.

The charges in the cases were brought under the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004’s Section 27(1), Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2012’s Section 4(2)(3) and Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947.

The ACC launched a probe against Liton on Dec 31 last year.

On Mar 6, the court barred Liton, his wife Shaheen, daughters Anika and Maisa Samiha from leaving the country.