ACC to rate complaints it receives – 30 points for corruption over Tk1 crore

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has introduced a 100-point grading system to rate the complaints it receives, in a bid to ensure transparency and impartiality in its treatment of the allegations. “We have introduced this grading system to prevent the possibility of even the slightest of bias in receiving graft allegations,” said ACC Chairman Iqbal Mahmood. “No ACC official can use their discretionary power to receive or reject corruption allegations. With the introduction of this process the commission is heading towards more transparency,” he remarked. The ACC has introduced the system after having felt the absence for some time of a specific guideline to scrutinise graft allegations received by the commission. Although there is a provision to form an allegation evaluation committee to verify complaints in line with Rule 5 of the Anti-Corruption Commission Rules 2007, the committee was until now free to choose its own methods to select and prioritise the complaints. The introduction of this score-based grading system in scrutinising the graft allegations will help formulate a common approach to the complaints.

How this will work

Each complaint will be scored on a 100-point scale. Only the allegations that will get 55 or above will be accepted by the ACC for inquiry. Of the 100 points, 40 points have been allocated for evaluation on the basis of specifics of the allegations, 30 numbers for the amount of money involved, and 30 for public importance of the case.Out of the first 40, the complaint will get 10 points for naming miscreants and five otherwise. It will get 10 points for mentioning the place and time of the incident, and five otherwise. It will get 20 points for presenting documentary evidence. In terms of money, the complaint will get 30 points if the corruption involves more than Tk1 crore and 20 if less than that. The complaint will get 30 points if it is considered important for the public and 15 if considered less important. The allegations which will get 56-74 points will be sent to the concerned ministry, department, directorate and agency with advice of taking necessary departmental action to this end. For complaints getting 1-55 points, no action will be taken against the allegation.