11 witnesses testify in Tk34cr graft case against S Alam, PK Halder, others
A Dhaka court has set 9 August for the remaining cross-examination and testimony of the investigation officer.
Highlights
- Court records testimony of 11th prosecution witness
- Investigation officer to testify at next hearing
- Trial involves S Alam, PK Halder and 11 others
A Dhaka court today (19 July) recorded the testimony of the 11th prosecution witness in a case over the alleged embezzlement of Tk34 crore through fraud and abuse of power involving S Alam Group Chairman Mohammad Saiful Alam, widely known as S Alam, former Reliance Finance Limited managing director Prashanta Kumar (PK) Halder and 11 others.
First Security Islami Bank PLC Assistant Vice President Asadul Azad testified before Judge Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun of Dhaka Special Judge Court-5, confirmed Bench Assistant Arif Hossain to The Business Standard.
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Following his deposition, defence counsel Niaz Morshed completed the cross-examination on behalf of accused Rashedul Haque, who is currently in jail.
Advocate Mohammad Babul Bepari, representing accused Nahida Runai, sought additional time to complete her cross-examination.
The court granted the request and fixed 9 August for the remaining cross-examination and the testimony of the investigation officer.
He said Asadul Azad was the 11th of the 15 prosecution witnesses listed in the charge sheet to testify, while the investigation officer will be the final witness in the trial.
The other accused are S Alam Group Vice Chairman Abdus Samad; directors Mohammad Abdullah Hasan and Shahana Ferdous; former Reliance Finance Limited Executive Vice President Rashedul Haque; former manager Nahida Runai; former Senior Vice President Kazi Ahmed Jamal; former deputy manager Jumaratul Banna; and former Marine Vegetable Oils Managing Director Zahir Ahmed and directors Tipu Sultan, Md Ishaq and Md Abdullah Al Mamun.
Among the accused, Nahida Runai and Rashedul Haque are in jail, while the remaining accused are absconding. The court has issued arrest warrants against them.
Earlier, on 19 January, the same court framed charges against S Alam, PK Halder and the other accused, formally opening the trial.
The recording of witness testimony began on 23 February with the deposition of Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Deputy Director Tahasin Munabil Haque, the complainant in the case. Five more witnesses testified on 22 June, followed by four others on 8 July.
According to the case statement, the accused conspired to secure approval of a Tk34 crore term loan in the name of shell company AM Trading on 8 August, 2013. The loan was disbursed on 9 September that year before being transferred to S Alam Super Edible Oil Limited.
The ACC case was filed on 2 July last year by Deputy Director Tahasin Munabil Haque. Following the investigation, he submitted the charge sheet against the 13 accused on 16 October.
