PK Halder, 82 accomplices laundered Tk3,634cr: BFIU report

Former director of the International Leasing and Financial Services Ltd (ILFSL) Prashanta Kumar Halder and his accomplices embezzled Tk3,634 crore through fraudulent activities, and laundered the money abroad to countries such as Singapore and Malaysia.

An investigation conducted by the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) also found the names of 82 individuals and institutions involved with the PK Halder's scam, says an intelligence report by the unit.

State prosecutors will submit the BFIU report to the High Court on 20 January, Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin Manik told The Business Standard on Saturday, adding that through this report, the BFIU has "created a complete picture of the illicit activities carried out by the country's top money launderer."

Following a High Court order issued in December last year, the BFIU launched an investigation into PK Halder's alleged involvement in embezzlement and money laundering activities. The unit submitted the report to the Attorney General's Office on 13 January.

The bank accounts of the 83 individuals and companies have already been frozen. Moreover, the list contains the name of Abontika Baral – PK Halder's alleged girlfriend who recently got arrested by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

Providing more details, Deputy Attorney General Manik said, "PK Halder laundered the embezzled funds to India, Canada, Singapore and Malaysia, and then used the money to make various investments and buy houses."

Meanwhile, the report read, "The BFIU visited the International Leasing and Financial Services Ltd office and found that PK Halder embezzled Tk3,634 crore of the ILFSL's money from various banks, financial institutions and the capital market using 43 companies between 2015 and the following 3-4 years."

The report also sheds light on the trail of money that was given in loans to 43 borrowing companies, and their actual beneficiaries. These companies exist on only paper.

"It appears that PK Halder, with support from ILFSL's board of directors, chief financial officer, top management, department of internal audit and credit division, engaged in various irregularities, corruption and fraudulent activities to embezzle money from the non-bank financial institution under the guise of loans handed out to the borrowers," it says.

The BFIU report has been sent to the ACC, and the anti-graft watchdog is also working on the matter, state prosecutors told The Business Standard.

An article was published on a national daily titled "ACC seeks Interpol's help in bringing PK Halder back" on 18 November last year. A day later, the High Court sought information from authorities concerned about the steps being taken to bring ILFSL Director PK Halder back to Bangladesh.

The ACC submitted a report to the High Court on 2 December in response to that suo moto order.

According to an ongoing ACC investigation, PK Halder embezzled at least Tk11,000 crore from different organisations and financial institutions. ACC sources said the amount of embezzled money could increase as the investigation progresses.

Among the institutions, he and his accomplices misappropriated around Tk3,500 crore from ILFSL, Tk2,200 crore from FAS Finance, Tk2,500 crore from Reliance Finance, and around Tk3,000 crore from People's Leasing.

On 8 January this year, the International Criminal Police Organisation, commonly known as Interpol, issued a red notice against PK Halder – also the former managing director of NRB Global Bank.

Besides, the High Court slapped an international travel ban on 25 people, including the family members and some reported girlfriends of PK Halder for their alleged connection with him.