Latest: Corruption and Money Laundering.

Police get back power to probe.

Parliament yesterday passed the Anti-Corruption Commission (amendment) Bill-2016, empowering the police to investigate some fraud and forgery charges which were previously dealt with by the ACC.

Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury, also in charge of the Cabinet Division in parliamentary affairs, had placed the bill in the House on November 22 last year. The bill was passed by a voice vote.

With the passage of the bill, the ACC lost its authority to deal with the cases under sections 408, 462A, 462B, 466, 467 and 469 of the Penal Code, 1860.

The bill is aimed at fighting corruption and further strengthening the ACC. The government hoped that the changes to the law would help significantly increase the rate of settlement of cases.

Instead of the graft watchdog, the police will now investigate charges against bank officials and employees of neglecting duties, against any banking company of fraud, charges of forgery of court record or public register, valuable security, and   criminal breach of trust by any clerk or servant in case of a public      property.

The ACC, however, will be probing fraud and forgery charges involving government properties, public servants and bank employees.

The bill stipulates that the graft watchdog will probe money laundering charges related to only bribery and corruption under the Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2012.

Readmore: