The High Court has observed that the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has no authority to freeze anyone's property without permission from the court concerned.

"The Anti-Corruption Commission Rules, 2007 does not give any power to an inquiry or investigating officer or any other officer of the ACC for freezing or attachment of a 'crime acquired property' or otherwise imposing any restriction to enjoy the same at his whim," the court said.

The HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman came up with the observation in the full text of a judgement which was released yesterday (Wednesday).

On June 27, the bench delivered a short verdict declaring illegal the order of an investigation officer (IO) of the ACC to freeze the bank account of Belayet Hossain, a pharmacy businessman in Cox's Bazar. 

An ACC official cannot give any directive to freeze a person's bank accounts, the court said in the short verdict.

The HC bench delivered the verdict following a writ petition filed by Belayet Hossain, challenging the legality of the order issued by an IO of the ACC to freeze his bank accounts. 

Assistant director of ACC's Chattogram-2 integrated office Md Sharif Uddin on January 6 this year directed the manager of Cox's Bazar branch of Social Islami Banl Limited to freeze the bank account of Belayet Hossain.

Belayet filed the writ the HC challenging the legality of the ACC official Sharif Uddin's directive.