Tk34cr embezzlement: Trial begins against S Alam, PK Halder, 11 others

A Dhaka court has ordered the commencement of trial against S Alam Group Chairman Mohammad Saiful Alam and former Reliance Finance Limited (now Aviva Finance Ltd) Managing Director Prashanta Kumar (PK) Halder, along with 11 others, in a case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) over the alleged embezzlement of Tk34 crore through fraud and abuse of power.

Judge Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun of Dhaka Special Judge Court-5 framed charges against the accused and directed that the trial begin after a hearing today (27 January). The court also fixed 23 February for the recording of witness testimonies.

The other accused whose trial has begun are S Alam Group Vice Chairman Abdus Samad; Directors Mohammad Abdullah Hasan and Shahana Ferdous; former Executive Vice President of Reliance Finance (now Aviva Finance Ltd) Rashedul Haque; former Manager Nahida Runai; former Senior Vice President Kazi Ahmed Jamal; former Deputy Manager Jumaratul Banna; and former Managing Director of Marin Vegetable Oils Jahir Ahmed, along with Directors Tipu Sultan, Md Ishak and Md Abdullah Al Mamun.

Among them, Nahida Runai and Rashedul Haque are currently in jail, while the remaining accused are absconding.

ACC prosecutor Mohammad Tarikul Islam confirmed the developments. He said that the two accused were produced before the court from prison during the hearing, while the others remained absconding.

"The defence lawyers of the two accused sought their discharge from the case. After hearing, the court rejected the plea and ordered the framing of charges," he said, adding that the absconding accused could not participate in the charge-framing hearing.

During the hearing, Nahida Runai and Rashedul Haque pleaded not guilty and sought justice.

Earlier, on 11 January, the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court accepted the charge sheet in the case and ordered that it be transferred to Dhaka Special Judge Court-5 for trial.

According to the case statement, the accused, in collusion with one another, approved a Tk34 crore term loan on 8 August 2013 in the name of a fictitious entity, AM Trading, and disbursed the amount on 9 September 2013. The money was later transferred to S Alam Super Edible Oil Limited.

A total of 13 people have been accused in the case. ACC Deputy Director Tahasin Munabil Haque filed the case on 2 July last year. Following the investigation, the same official submitted the charge sheet against the 13 accused on 16 October of the same year.