War crimes enquiry against Moosa begins

Investigators have started preliminary investigation against controversial businessman Moosa Bin Shamser whether he was involved in crimes during the country’s Liberation War in 1971.

“We have recently received allegation that he (Moosa) committed crimes during the 1971 war,” Sanaul Huq, co-coordinator of the investigation agency of International Crimes Tribunal said today.

"We will register a case against him if we find evidence during the enquiry," he said at a press conference at its Dhanmondi office in Dhaka.

He, however, declined to give further details at the conference.

The investigation agency usually carries out preliminary investigation once it receives allegation against a war crimes suspect. If the investigators find evidence against the suspect, then the agency register a formal complaint against him or her to begin formal investigation.

In Moosa’s case, the agency is now carrying out the preliminary investigation.

War crimes evidence found against 9

The ICT investigators have said to have found evidence against nine men from Mymensingh and Jamalpur over their alleged involvement in crimes during the Liberation War in 1971.

They were "involved" in the killing of at least 101 people, injuring of 13 men, raping of a woman and torching of 110 to 112 houses in Muktagacha and Mymensingh Sadar upazila, Sanaul Huq said.

Of the nine, six are now in jail while the rest are yet to be arrested, he said.

The arrestees are: Abdus Salam, 75, Suruj Ali Fakir, 62, Joyen Uddin Faruki, 60, Abdur Rahim, 67, Jalal Uddin, 59, and Rustam Ali, 70. He said tribunal has already issued arrest warrant against the rest three but they are yet to be arrested.

Of the nine, Abdus Salam was involved with Al-Badr Bahini while the rest eight with Razakar Bahini, Sanaul said.