No bar on Maya’s being Minister: ACC

Staff Correspondent: Relief and Disaster Management Minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya has no legal bar for continuing his position in the cabinet and parliament as well.

Anti Curroption Commission (ACC) Commissioner Shahabuddin Chuppu made the disclosure on Sunday while talking to journalists at his office.

The ACC commissioner, however, said that it was his personal opinion.

The debate of Maya’s being a minister originated after Supreme Court on June 14 quashed a High Court order acquitting Maya of graft charges in a case seven years ago. Later on June 24, the court also released the full verdict on the regard and ordered a fresh appeal hearing of the case.

Following the release of the full verdict, ACC lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan told journalists that according to the constitution Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya should not continue his post as a Member of the Parliament (MP).

“The issue has not been finilised yet. Maya has no bar to continue his cabinet and parliament membership unitl the final verdict of court,” he also added.

On Feb 14, 2008, Awami League MP Maya was sentenced to 13 years in prison and fined Tk 50 million during the emergency.  A special court also ordered confiscation of his property worth around Tk 60 million.

risingbd/DHAKA/June 28, 2015/M A Rahman/Augustin Sujan