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Koko freed for 2 months

He may fly to Bangkok tomorrow for treatment

Staff Correspondent
Arafat Rahman Koko, younger son of detained BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia. was released for two months on an executive order from the government yesterday.
He was brought out of the prison cell at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) at around 6:00pm and carried to his cantonment residence by an ambulance.
The same day the AntiCorruption Commission (ACC) pressed charges against him of amassing wealth illegally and concealing information in his assets statement.
Earlier in the day. a Dhaka court exempted him from appearing in person before it during trial of the
case.
Koko stands accused in two more cases--one for extortion and the other for graft in Gatco deal. I Ie has already been excused from being present in court in the Gatco case while the High Court has stayed the extortion case proceedings.
.•Mong with his mother, he was arrested on September 3 last year from their Shaheed Moinul Road residence in Dhaka cantonment.
His elder brother Tarique Rahman too is behind bars, accused in several cases.
Talking to The Daily Star yesterday, Inspector General of Prisons Brig Gen Zakir Hassan said, “The government has granted Koko temporary' release on condition
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that the order can be cancelled anytime without anyexplanation."
"Hq was released mainly for treatment in Thailand," he said, adding that the conditions attached to his release are like the ones followed in Awami League (Al.) chief Sheikh Hasina'scase.
A relative of Koko meantime told The Daily Star. "We are preparing to take him to Bangkok for treatment as early as possible. Most probably he would leave the country Saturday [tomorrow|."
A handout of the Press Information Department (P1D) said that Koko has been released for two monthsona number of conditions.
If he goes abroad for treatment, he or his relatives will have to report »o the Bangladesh mission concerned on his health situation every three days.
He will not be allowed to engage in any political or business activities, and he must not communicate with any agency or person for any reasons other than treatment, the handout read.
Besides, if his treatment ends before eight weeks, he will contact the government and surrender before a court on return home.
According to the handout, the government might cut short the release for breach of the conditions. It can also cancel the order at any moment withoutgiving any reason.
As the news of Koko's release spread, several hundred leaders and workers of BNP and its front organisations gathered on the BSMMU premises. BNP chairperson's adviser Brig Gen (retd) ASM Hannan Shah. Joint Secretary General Nazrul Islam Khan and Office Secretary Rizvi ?\hmed, were among those present.
In his reaction, Hannan Shah told reporters, "Though late, we are happy that the government has released Koko for treatment abroad."
Calling for immediate release of Tarique for overseas treatment, he said, "Democracy would be restored if Khaleda Zia and Tarique are released."
A large contingent of police was deployed in BSMMU area to avert anythinguntoward.
During the time, a huge snarl-up on the road between Shalibagh and Sonargaon crossing caused sufferings to hundreds of homeward-bound commuters.
CHARGESHEETAGAINSTKOKO
At around 6:00pm, ACC Deputy Director Abu Sayeed submitted charge sheet to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court in Dhaka in the case filed against Koko for ill-gotten wealth and concealment of assets information.
He showed 31 people as prosecution witnesses, reports our court "Correspondent.
This is the second time that tile-anti-graft body has pressed charges against Koko. Earlier, it charged him in Gatco graft case.
Sayeed, also the investigation officer, said Koko should be on trial since die charges against him of making wealth beyond his known sources of income have been proved primarily.
On April 23 this year, the ACC filed tiie case against him with Ramna Police Station for amassing wealth worth Tk 2.23 crore througli illegal means and keeping back information on assets worth around Tk 11.20 lakh.
According to the case statement, Koko in his wealth statement to the ACC showed that he, his wife and two daughters own movable and immovable property worth around Tk 8.08 crore.
However, an ACC investigation found that the assets belonging to the family are worth more than the declared amount.
It also gathered that Koko concealed information about a flat at Banani, loans from banks and remu ■ neration and other benefits that he might have received from different businesses.
He also held back information about 500 shares (Tk 1 OOeach) he has in a business firm named Hasanco Aviation Ltd and two bank savings certificates (Tk 1 lakh each) under his wife's name.
His wife's investment ofTk 1.50 crore in a business and his expenses for 84 overseas trips between September 2003 and December 2006 did not match the couple's stated sourcesofincome.