DHAKA: A Dhaka court adjourned till September 15 the hearing on Bangladesh Bank petition for court’s direction in bringing back the money allegedly siphoned abroad by ex-PM and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia’s younger son Arafat Rahman Coco.

Judge Mozzamel Hossain of the special Judge’s Court-3 adjourned the hearing Monday in response to Anti-corruption Commission (ACC) prayer for adjournment.

According to the petition filed by special public prosecutor of ACC Mosharraf Hossain Kajal, the Attorney-General will hear the case and he could not attend Monday’s hearing as he was busy in the higher court.

Another accused, Ismail Hossain Simon, son of former Shipping Minister Colonel (retd) Akbar Hossain, is absconding.
 
Mosharraf Hossain Kazol told banglanews24.com.bd that Bangladesh Bank on July 12 appealed to the government for freezing Tk 6.24 crore which was siphoned off by Coco to Singapore.

On March 17 last year, the Anti-Corruption Commission filed the money-laundering case with Kafrul police station.
 
After investigation, the IO of the case submitted the charge-sheet against Coco and Simon on November 12 last year.

As per case statement, Arafat Rahman Coco siphoned off 28.84 lakh Singapore dollars and USD 9.32 lakh abroad in collusion with Simon.

Dhaka bar president Advocate Sanaullah Mia, Joinul Abedin Mezbah and Mohiuddin Ahmed stood for the accused.

BDST: 1723 HRS AUG 29, 2010