The court has ordered the seizure of immovable properties, including a luxurious flat in Dhanmondi, Dhaka, belonging to former member of parliament Fahmi Gulandaz Babel, on charges of illegal asset acquisition and money laundering.
Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Sabbir Faiz granted the application and issued this order in response to an application by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Thursday.
Fahmi Gulandaz Babel was a former Member of Parliament for Mymensingh-10 constituency.
The ACC’s application stated that during the investigation, it has been learnt from reliable sources that the accused is trying to transfer or alienate the immovable properties in his name elsewhere.
The application goes on to state that, while serving as a member of parliament and chairman of upazila parishad, through bribery and corruption, Fahmi Gulandaz Babel acquired immovable properties worth approximately Tk20.11 crore, which is inconsistent with his known sources of income.
Simultaneously, charges were brought claiming that, in 16 bank accounts in his name, Tk60.98 crore and $171,646 were transferred and converted through suspicious transactions.
Based on these allegations, a case has been filed against him under Section 27(1) of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004, Sections 4(2) and 4(3) of the Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2012, and Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947.
Among the immovable properties ordered seized by the court are a flat of approximately 3,434 square feet on the 8th floor of a multi-storyed building at Road No 5 in the Dhanmondi residential area and two car parking spots. The estimated market value of the flat is about Tk8.56 crore.
The ACC’s application stated that, according to information obtained during the investigation, the accused is trying to transfer or hide his assets elsewhere. Therefore, in the interest of the investigation, seizing the assets is absolutely necessary as per Rule 18 of the Anti-Corruption Commission Rules, 2007, and the provisions of Section 14 of the Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2012.
Instructions have been given to the District Registrars (Dhaka and Mymensingh), the chairman of Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK), and the chairman of the National Housing Authority to issue necessary directives for the execution of the court’s attachment order.
Formal approval for filing the application in court regarding this matter had already been given from the ACC headquarters.
