ACC seeks Masud Uddin to be shown arrested in Tk119cr embezzlement case
The investigating officer of the case and ACC Assistant Director Md Abul Kalam Azad submitted the application on behalf of the commission.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed a petition to formally show Lieutenant General (Retd) Masud Uddin Chowdhury, a former Member of Parliament for Feni-3, arrested in a case involving the embezzlement of Tk119.32 crore by sending workers to Malaysia.
The investigating officer of the case and ACC Assistant Director Md Abul Kalam Azad submitted the application on behalf of the commission, today (25 March).
Following the application, Acting Judge Moin Uddin Chowdhury of the Dhaka Senior Special Judge's Court set 9 April for a hearing on the matter in the presence of the accused.
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ACC Prosecutor Delwar Jahan Rumi confirmed the development.
According to the application, Masud Uddin Chowdhury and others allegedly conspired with one another, abused their power, and committed criminal breach of trust for dishonest gain while he was serving as a member of parliament. He was appointed as an agent for recruiting workers to Malaysia but allegedly collected more than the determined fee of Tk78,990 per worker.
The ACC alleged that the accused formed a syndicate by exerting political influence and unlawfully charged workers additional money at different stages, including for passports and medical tests. A total of 7,124 workers were reportedly affected.
Through these activities, the accused allegedly collected Tk119.32 crore in excess of the legally determined fees and misappropriated the funds.
The application further states that the accused laundered the money by concealing, transferring, and converting it through illegal means, in violation of the Penal Code, the Money Laundering Prevention Act, and the Anti-Corruption Commission Act.
The ACC also said that if granted bail, the accused could obstruct the investigation. Therefore, it is necessary to show him arrested in this case in the interest of a fair probe.
Masud Uddin was arrested late on 23 March from his residence in Baridhara DOHS in the capital. The following day, a court granted a five-day remand in another case filed with Paltan Police Station over allegations of embezzlement and human trafficking involving a syndicate.
