Padma Bridge graft : RCMP team due Dhaka Monday

A special team of Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) will arrive here on Monday to submit its report on Padma Bridge corruption.

Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) source on Friday night confirmed banglanews about the matter.

According to the source, the special police team consisting of eight to ten members is staying in Sri Lanka for a special purpose.

Wishing anonymity, a high official of ACC told banglanews, “They are expected to visit the ACC office on June 25 if possible. They could also visit the commission office on July 3.”

“They are scheduled to hold meeting with commission chairman Golam Rahman, commissioners Md. Sahabuddin Chuppu and Badiuzzaman. Besides, they will hold talk with members of the probe body formed to investigate the issue”, he added.

The official informed that the team will record statements of people concerned and also collect various evidences.

Regarding the visit, ACC chairman Golam Rahman told banglanews, “They are likely to arrive here on June 25. Later, they will submit the report on July 3.”

Earlier, the RCMP launched an investigation against SNC-Lavalin last October following a WB request. It raided the company`s office, seized all documents and arrested former chief executive Pierre Duhaime, Bangladeshi-born Canadian citizen Ismail Hossain and Indian-born Canadian citizen Ramesh.

ACC sources said the RCMP had claimed that they gleaned information and found proof of various irregularities regarding the consultant`s appointment for the bridge project by interrogating the three detainees.

Sources said the seized SNC-Lavalin documents showed that the company had readied itself to pay a huge amount of bribe to people who were helping it obtain the job. The payment was set to be made after the appointment.

Several other ACC officials claimed that the RCMP had obtained solid evidence of bribery.