Tk25cr embezzlement: Testimony begins against ex-land minister Saifuzzaman, 35 others
The court has set 21 April for the next witness hearing.
Testimony has begun in a case filed against former land minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury and 35 others for allegedly embezzling a Tk25 crore loan from United Commercial Bank (UCB) by using fictitious companies and laundering the money.
The complainant, Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Deputy Director Md Mashiur Rahman, testified before the Chattogram Divisional Special Judge's Court.
The court has set 21 April for the next witness hearing, ACC Public Prosecutor Mokarram Hossain told The Business Standard.
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According to the case statement, the accused violated banking rules to approve a loan in favour of a shell company, creating scope for embezzlement and laundering of funds.
Formal trial proceedings began on 11 March, when the court framed charges against the 36 accused, including the former minister. As per the charge sheet, the loan amount was taken between 13 October 2019 and 13 February 2020 and later laundered abroad through hundi.
The case involves a total of 36 accused and 92 witnesses.
The case was filed on 24 July last year by the ACC in Chattogram, and the charge sheet was submitted to the court on 5 January this year following the completion of the investigation.
