ACC responsible for Jaha Alam ordeal

An ACC case kept the innocent jute mill worker Jaha Alam behind bars for nearly three years. File photo of Jaha Alam
An ACC case kept the innocent jute mill worker Jaha Alam behind bars for nearly three years. File photo of Jaha Alam

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Thursday submitted its probe report to the High Court stating that its investigation officers mistakenly identified Jaha Alam as Abu Salek, reports UNB.

Jaha Alam languished in jail for three years instead of the real accused in 26 corruption cases.

ACC also accused BRAC Bank and other banks for misleading the investigators.

ACC lawyer Khurshid Alam filed the report before the bench of justice FRM Nazmul Ahasan and justice KM Kamrul Kader and sought time. The court fixed 23 July for the next hearing.

Deputy attorney general ABM Abdullah Al Mahmud Basar stood for the state while lawyer Md Asaduzzaman represented BRAC Bank.

The court on 27 June directed the ACC to submit a report on 11 July on whether they have any liability in the case of Jaha Alam.

Earlier on 6 March, the court asked for detailed documents of 33 cases, in which Jaha Alam was incarcerated, and bank statements as affidavits within 10 April.

Jaha Alam was freed from jail on 4 February after the High Court acquitted him in 26 cases in which charges had been pressed.

The jute mill worker had been in jail since February 2016 in ACC cases for misappropriating Sonali Bank money. The real accused, Abu Salek, is absconding.

Jaha Alam was released after the High Court issued a suo moto order and asked the ACC to submit case documents in the form of affidavits.