Health sector contractor Mithu sent to jail over Tk76cr illegal assets

A Dhaka court has sent Motazzerul Islam Mithu, controversial health sector contractor during the Awami League regime, to jail on charges in a corruption case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) over nearly Tk76 crore illegal wealth.

Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court acting judge, Ibrahim Mia, issued the order today (11 September) after a hearing. The court also set 18 September for hearings on his bail and remand petition.

Confirming the matter to TBS, Mithu's lawyer, Md Shafiqul Islam, said the ACC sought a seven-day remand, while the defence filed for bail. "After a partial hearing, the court sent him to jail and fixed a later date for further proceedings."

According to the remand petition, Mithu amassed immovable and movable assets worth Tk75.8 crore, inconsistent with his known sources of income. 

He allegedly exploited his influence in the health sector through syndicates supplying equipment and undertaking development projects. The petition also mentioned ongoing probes into money laundering involving him and his family members in the US, Canada, and Australia.

Earlier, the Detective Branch (DB) of police arrested Mithu in the capital's Gulshan area.

The ACC found that Mithu, owner of Lexicon Merchandise and Technocrat, acquired immovable assets worth Tk18.4 crore, including agricultural land, leased plots, flats, and houses. Movable assets – such as shares, vehicles, bank deposits, gold, furniture, and electronics – amounted to Tk57.4 crore, bringing the total to nearly Tk75.8 crore.

The commission further discovered that Mithu's household expenditure alone stood at Tk71.4 crore, making his total wealth and expenditure around Tk147.3 crore. 

Of this, Tk71.5 crore was accounted for from legal sources, while Tk75.8 crore remains unexplained, establishing the allegation of illicit wealth accumulation.