The government is set to start immediately the process to freeze and attach the properties of the remaining 17 persons after obtaining magistrate's orders.

Immediately after taking office yesterday, the new ACC chairman and two commissioners gave an ex-post facto approval of the ACC secretary's move to ask the 50 corruption suspects to submit their wealth statements in the absence of the commission.

New ACC Chairman Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury told reporters that anything required in addition to the ex-post facto to legally justify the ACC secretary's action will also be provided.

As the deadline at 5:00pm yesterday approached, 28 of the 50 corruption suspects rushed to the ACC to submit their wealth statements. Five others had submitted their statements earlier.

Of the 50 persons, 21 had already been in custody when the list was published and were asked to submit their wealth statements through representatives while 29 others were ordered to submit their statements to the ACC in person within 72 hours.

Last Monday, the ACC published the list of 50 persons, including three dozen former ministers and lawmakers, top politicians and businessmen, in the first phase of publishing names of 420 top corruption suspects. Four ACC directors were assigned to receive the wealth statements.

The 17 suspects who did not submit their wealth statements are business partner of former prime minister's son Tarique Rahman--Giasuddin Al-Mamun, former PM Khaleda Zia's private secretary Harris Chowdhury, Awami League (AL) leader Abul Hasnat Abdullah, former AL state minister Moffazal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, former AL whip Mostafa Rashidi Suja, former AL MPs Shamim Osman, Akhteruzzaman Chowdhury Babu, Haji Selim, Moqbul Hossain, Mirza Azam, HBM Iqbal and Joynal Hazari, Jubo League Chairman Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Munshiganj AL leader Mohiuddin Ahmed, Sylhet BNP leader Ariful Haq Chowdhury, Bashundhara Group Chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan (Shah Alam), and former National Board of Revenue (NBR) member Jahurul Haque.

Of them, Giasuddin Al-Mamun has reportedly been on detention of the joint forces since January although his arrest has not been officially announced yet.

When Mamun's representatives went to the ACC to submit his wealth statement, ACC Director Tankin Ahmed Siddiqui refused to receive it because he does not have any official information that Mamun is arrested. Tankin said Mamun has to appear in person.

However, Mamun's representatives left his wealth statement at the ACC.

Mamun's statement shows that he owns Tk 35.5 crore in assets, of which Tk 29.14 crore is in his name and Tk 6.27 crore in assets is in his wife's name. It also shows that Mamun has shares in 14 companies.

Earlier, ACC Secretary Delwar Hossain told reporters that he will enquire about Mamun's status with the government. Yesterday he told The Daily Star that he could not learn anything about Mamun's status.

Sylhet BNP President Ariful Haq Chowdhury surrendered at a Sylhet court yesterday and was later sent to jail.

His representative went to the ACC to submit his wealth statement yesterday but ACC Director Abdul Wadud did not officially receive his statement as the commission does not have any official information that Ariful was imprisoned. His statement was also unofficially "left" with the ACC.

The ACC also did not receive the wealth statement of HBM Iqbal from his representatives. But the ACC was informed yesterday afternoon that the High Court (HC) ordered Iqbal's wife to submit his wealth statement within 24 hours as Iqbal was "ill".

The ACC secretary told The Daily Star that he heard about the HC orders but was not officially informed of it as of 5:00pm yesterday. He said if the HC really gives such orders, the ACC will fully comply with the directives.

Former BNP MP from Narayanganj Giasuddin also surrendered to a Narayanganj court yesterday and his representatives submitted his wealth statement to the ACC with documents of Giasuddin's surrender and imprisonment.

Most of the 17 corruption suspects, including Harris Chowdhury, tried to submit their wealth statements through representatives but the ACC did not accept them as the suspects did not turn up in person.

The ACC also did not accept the wealth statement of Shamim Osman sent by mail.

Maya and Joynal Hazari did not send any representative to the ACC within the 72-hour deadline.

Those who have already submitted their wealth statements are former home minister Mohammad Nasim (AL), former communications minister Nazmul Huda (BNP), former adviser to prime minister Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury (BNP), former housing minister Mirza Abbas (BNP), former political secretary to prime minister Mosaddak Ali Falu (BNP), Engineer Mosharraf Hossain (AL), former environment minister Tariqul Islam (BNP), adviser to the AL Salman F Rahman, former state ministers Amanullah Aman (BNP), Mir Nasiruddin (BNP), Salauddin Ahmed (BNP), Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku (BNP), Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir (AL) and Ruhul Quddus Talukder Dulu (BNP), former MPs Ali Azgar Lobi (BNP), AHM Mostafa Kamal (AL), Nasir Uddin Ahmed Pintu (BNP), Salauddin Ahmed (BNP), Hafiz Ibrahim (BNP), Abdul Wadud Bhuiyan (BNP), Gias Uddin (BNP), Mufti Shahidul Islam (Islami Oikya Jote), Rashiduzzaman Millat (BNP), Shajahan Chowdhury (Jamaat-e-Islami), Manjurul Ahsan Munshi (BNP) and Naser Rahman (BNP), ward commissioners Chowdhury Alam (BNP) and Abdul Quayum (BNP), Pankaj Debnath (AL), Jamuna Group Chairman Nurul Islam Babul, former secretary ANH Akhter Hossain, Sonali Bank CBA President BM Bakir Hossain, and T&T CBA President Firoz Miah.

Mirza Abbas, Mosharraf, Akhter Hossain, Hafiz Ibrahim, and Quayum were arrested yesterday when they went to submit their wealth statements. Babul was arrested last Thursday after submitting his wealth statement, while Bakir's whereabouts are still unconfirmed as the government has not officially announced his arrest yet.

Jamaat's Shajahan Chowdhury and BNP's Rashiduzzaman Millat were not arrested.

WHAT NEXT?
ACC Secretary Delwar told reporters that the submitted statements will now be verified. If any false information is found in anyone's statement, an FIR (first information report) will be filed against them and then they will be investigated.

Afterwards, a charge sheet will be submitted and they will have to face trial in accordance with the law.

Although the ACC has not labelled the 50 persons as "corrupt", the commission said it concluded from the primary enquiry that these people had acquired huge unauthorised property and that their wealth does not match their legal incomes.

By seeking permission of the magistrate the government will confiscate the movable and immovable properties of those who have not submitted their statements, according to the emergency power rules.

"The government will soon move to seek the magistrate's permission," said the ACC secretary, adding that it will appoint administrators to keep confiscated factories and trading firms running.

The ACC will also discuss the issue of those who are currently overseas and could not submit their statements in person and sent representatives.

There had been a vacuum in the ACC as of Friday following the resignation of the chairman and two commissioners on February 7.

The ACC Act states that the chairman and two commissioners must jointly decide to ask people for their wealth statements.