DHAKA: The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) exempted five people, including energy and mineral resources ministry secretary also former BPC chairman Abu Bakar Siddique, in embezzling Tk 150 crore from Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC).

The decision came after a meeting in ACC office in city’s Segun Bagicha area on Tuesday.

The ACC also released additional secretary Anwarul Karim (OSD and former BPC secretary), former BPC chairman AKM Jafarullah (retd secretary), former chairman Major Muktadir Ali (retd), and Chittagong WASA additional secretary and former DMD of BPC M Abdul Awal.

ACC commissioner (investigation) Shahabuddin Chuppu told journalists that they were exempted as no evidences were found against them.

The ACC sources said they filed the case against the five people as they allegedly embezzled Tk 150 crore as payment for imported fuel and showed it as ocean loss.

The ACC filed the case on October 16, 2013 with Chittagong Bandar Thana.

On August 24, the anti-graft commission conducted hearing of the five accused officials.

BDST: 1845 HRS, SEP 9, 2014