DHAKA, Sept 1: Bangladesh’s accountability body on Monday started hearing confessions from people seeking clemency after forfeiting ill-gotten property or money.

The Truth and Accountability Commission, set up in July, has received 198 cases so far.

Of them, four persons submitted their mercy petitions voluntarily, 145 cases were referred by a government-appointed committee and 49 by the anti-corruption commission.

No politician has approached the accountability body to date.

The three-member accountability body has declined to make public the names of the seven people who have made the confessions.