Terming money laundering a big problem for the country, newly appointed Anti-Corruption Commission chairman and commissioner on Wednesday said that the commission would give highest priority to prevent it.

At a joint press conference at the commission’s head office, chairman Mohammad Moinuddin Abdullah and commissioner Jahurul Haque said that the commission would work to stop money laundering and bring back the laundered money.

Jahurul said that the High Court already sought information relating to money laundering. The commission will provide the information to the court and take necessary steps following the court directives, he added.

Responding to a question, he said that the commission would follow the respective laws to bring back the corrupt people who are currently staying abroad.

Replying to a question about the corrupt officials in his office, the newly appointed commission chief said that he would ensure transparency.

The commission would try to fulfil the people’s expectations, he added.

He further said that the commission would work at a steady pace to complete the commission’s inquiry into all corruption allegations and investigation treating all suspects with an unbiased eye.

About the BASIC Bank money embezzlement issue, he said that the commission would find out reason why the investigation was not complete yet.

The commission will take necessary steps to carry out an investigation after reviewing the matter, he said.

The money laundering issue recently came into discussion after some major incidents of siphoning a huge amount of money abroad  were spotted by the authorities concerned including the commission and different law enforcement agencies.

According to the commission prosecutor Khurshid Alam Khan, former NRB Global Bank managing director Prasanta Kumar Halder was facing inquiry over his involvement in alleged swindling of about Tk 10,000 crore from different non-banking financial institutions.

PK Halder is accused in 16 cases though he left the country and has been staying in Canada since.

The commission on Tuesday approved 10 cases against 37 people, 10 business firms, over their alleged involvement in the embezzlement of about Tk 800 crore from the leasing company — International Leasing and Financial Services Limited — in association with PK Halder.

PK Halder will be a common accused in all the 10 cases that will be filed soon, said commission secretary M Anowar Hossain Hawlader.

Of the companies, Kolasin Limited embezzled Tk 60 crore, Lipro International Ltd Tk 174 crore, Wintel International Ltd Tk 68.50 crore, Okayama Limited Tk 87.60 crore, Earthscope Limited Tk 98.91 crore, Newtricyal Limited Tk 60 crore, RB Enterprise Tk 55 crore, M/s Emexo Tk 58 crore, Drinan Apparels Tk 60 crore and Kanika Enterprise Tk 60 crore.

Earlier, on January 25, the commission filed five cases against PK Halder and 32 others for siphoning about Tk 350 crore ILFSL money.

According to the case allegations, Tk 70.82 crore of the money was misappropriated in the name of Anan Chemical Limited, Tk 69.80 crore in the name of Sukhada Properties Limited, Tk 66.98 crore in the name of Messrs Barna, Tk 54.55 crore in the name of Rahman Chemicals Limited and Tk 83.84 crore in the name of Moon Enterprise.

PK Halder is wanted in a corruption case filed by the anti-graft body in January 2020 on charges of money laundering and amassing wealth worth Tk 274.91 crore beyond his known sources of income.

According to a probe by the Criminal Investigation Department of police, Faridpur city unit Awami League’s suspended general secretary Sajjad Hossain Barkat and his brother Imtiaz Hasan Rubel, backed by a number of influential figures of the district, have siphoned off Tk 2,525 crore abroad.

On March 3, the CID pressed a charge sheet before a Dhaka court against 10 accused, including the two brothers, former minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain’s brother Khandaker Mohtesam Hossain Babar and Mosharraf›s assistant personal secretary and former convener of Faridpur district unit Juba League AHM Fuad, both have been shown absconding.

On January 25, the commission sent a letter to the foreign ministry asking for information on government officials, politicians, business people and individuals who syphoned off money abroad, including Malaysia, Singapore, the USA, Canada and Australia.

The commission made the request following a High Court suo motu ruling that directed the government and the commission to submit to it details about the government officials, politicians, businessmen and others who have syphoned off money abroad, including Malaysia, Singapore, the USA, Canada and Australia.

The High Court on November 22, 20