Travel ban imposed on Nafeez Sarafat
The ACC, back in August, started investigating various corruption allegations levelled against Nafeez Sarafat
A Dhaka court has imposed a travel ban on Chowdhury Nafeez Sarafat, the former chairman of Padma Bank, over allegations of corruption against him.
Following the submission of an application by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Mohammed Ash-Shams Joglul Hossain gave the order today (7 October).
ACC Deputy Director Md Masudur Rahman submitted the application seeking the travel ban. Public Prosecutor Mahmud Hossain Jahangir represented the ACC.
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According to the application, Nafeez Sarafat is accused of bribery, corruption, fraud, abuse of power, money laundering, amassing huge amounts of money and embezzling money abroad by defrauding customers.
He is reported to have amassed huge wealth in various parts of the country and Canada by abusing his position and political identity, read the application.
Nafeez is trying to steer public sentiment in his favour by publishing various news and advertisements on national dailies from unknown locations, it added.
He may flee the country at any time and it will hamper the investigation. So, a travel ban is needed to prevent him from going abroad, ACC official Masudur said in the application.
The Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) has already frozen the bank accounts of Nafeez, his wife and their children.
The ACC in August started investigating the allegations brought against Nafeez Sarafat over illegally taking control of Padma Bank and embezzling Tk800 crore from the stock market.
He had resigned from the position of chairman of Padma Bank (formerly Farmers Bank) citing health reasons in January this year.
The Criminal Investigation Department of police has also launched an investigation into Nafeez in line with the Money Laundering Prevention Act.
