Bribery case: Trial against DIG Mizan, ACC director Basir begins

The trial of the bribery case against suspended Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Mizanur Rahman and suspended ACC Director Khandaker Enamul Basir began at a Dhaka court today with deposition of the complainant.

Judge Shaik Nazmul Alam of the Special Judge Court-4 of Dhaka recorded the statement of complainant Sheikh Mohammad Fanafilya, director of Anti-Corruption Commission.

On completion of deposition, defence sought time to cross-examine the witness.

The judge fixed September 2 for the next hearing.

The same court on March 18 this year framed charges against the duo.

In his statement, the witness said the ACC in May 2018 launched an enquiry against ex-DIG Mizan on charges of accumulating illegal wealth.

The commission assigned Basir to carry out the enquiry on October 25 the same year. Basir took over the charge of inquiry on October 29.

Basir took Tk 40 lakh as bribe from Mizan in two instalments. On January 15 last year, Basir took Tk 25 lakh at Shahjahanpur and February 25 last year 15 lakh at Shantinagar with promises of exonerating Mizan of the charges.

Mizan later brought allegations in media on June 9 last year that Basir took bribe from him, and produced audio clips of conversation between them.

Basir was suspended from his post by ACC the following day. But he had denied the allegations, saying the audio clip was fabricated.

ACC later removed Basir from the enquiry, and on June 13 formed a three-member committee to verify Mizan's claim.

The committee, led by him, found the allegations to be true and the audio clip genuine, the complainant continued.

The commission then gave an approval for filing a case against the duo on July 16 last year.

The same day, the complainant filed a case with its Integrated District Office-1 of Dhaka against them for a transaction of Tk 40 lakh as bribe.

On January 15, the ACC submitted a charge sheet against them for their alleged involvement in taking and giving the Tk 40 lakh bribe.