By NNN-PTI
Dhaka : Bangladesh is planning to enact a law to give legal cover to a ‘Truth Commission’ to secure confessions from businessmen accused of corruption without putting them on trial.
The planned setting up of the “Truth Commission” comes amid the ongoing campaign against corruption in which many businessmen have been put on trial, triggering panic among the community.
“In many countries, the question of reconciliation and settlement comes after a major change. So, we are thinking about introducing plea bargain for businessmen,” Law Adviser Mainul Hosein said.
The commission will be a major tool for “Plea Bargain”, an agreement where a defendant agrees to plead guilty or no contest in exchange for a settlement from the prosecution regarding the punishment.
Plea bargain will not only reduce the time for disposal of a case, it will also reduce government expenditure required for keeping the accused in prisons and prosecution of the cases, the information adviser said.
The government is working on enacting a law to give legal cover to the commission, Hosein was reported as saying in the media today. He, however, did not elaborate on the structure of the commission.
“Businessmen have been repeatedly saying they are in panic, they cannot get involved in their businesses,” Hosein said, adding “Going before the ‘Truth Commission,’ they will admit to acquiring wealth through dishonest means and will say: ‘Fine us or take away our illegally-earned wealth'”.
The government has asked for different opinions from the business community on the proposed commission.