ACC starts investigation against ex-judge Faruq:Daily Sun

  In the wake of a massive allegation of his corruption, the Anti-Corruption Commission has sent a letter to the airport immigration authority so that retired judge Faruq Ahmed cannot leave the country. According to the ACC investigators, Faruq Ahmed in exchange for a big amount of bribe got release of 11 drug smugglers, including seven foreigners, in three drug cases just before going on retireme
nt. In the wake of such an allegation, the anti-graft watchdog on Tuesday launched an investigation into the graft allegations against the judge. The judge allegedly acquitted 11 drug smugglers in three drug cases in exchange for a big amount of money, the ACC spokesman said. Two of the cases were filed on charges of smuggling heroin worth about Tk 9 crore while another on a charge of smuggling 3000 pieces of yaba. Besides, there are also widespread allegations that the judge acquitted the accused in 15 other smuggling cases. ACC Deputy Director Jatan Kumar Roy has been entrusted with the investigation into the allegations, ACC spokesperson Pranab Kumar Bhattacharya at its Shegunbagicha headquarters told journalists on Wednesday. Before going on retirement on June 26, Faruk Ahmed, special district and sessions’ judge of a public safety court, allegedly delivered verdicts in 24 cases in 18 business days. A vernacular daily had reported this extraordinary feat on Aug 6. After media reports were run on Ahmed, acting Chief Justice SK Sinha personally went to the Dhaka court last week and seized documents of several cases settled by the retired judge. The Supreme Court then wrote to the law ministry to initiate action against the judge. The ACC investigator told journalists that after taking the charge, investigation was started against the judge. A letter was sent to the airport immigration authority on Tuesday so that the accused could not leave the country.