The graft watchdog says its investigations revealed irregularities and fraud over the Tk 40 million credited to former chief justice Surendra Kumar Sinha’s account from the Farmers Bank.
“We are investigating the loan procedures in accounts at Farmer’s bank and have unearthed evidence of loan fraud,” said Anti-Corruption Commission chief Iqbal Mahmud told the media on Thursday (Oct 4).
“We also have a list of suspects that we are investigating,” he added.
ACC Chairman Mahmud further said that legal actions will be taken against those who are involved when asked of the former chief justice’s involvement in the fraud.
He added evidence of money laundering, loan fraud and illegal transactions have been discovered in both the accounts.
“We will file a case if sufficient evidence is discovered,” he said.
On Sept 26, ACC investigators questioned six officials of Farmers Bank including its former managing director AKM Shameem.
The other five bankers are—Executive Officer Umme Salma, Assistant Vice President also former credit in-charge Shafiuudin Ahmed, Vice President also former manager (operation) Lutful Huq, Senior Executive Vice President also former head of business Gazi Salauddin and First Vice President Swapon Kumar Roy.
The ACC on May 6 questioned two businessmen – Md Shahjahan and Niranjan Chandra Saha – over the alleged bribery of Tk 40 million borrowed from Farmers Bank and later sent to an “important” person’s bank account through a pay order.
Commission officials said Shahjahan and Niranjan took Tk 20 million in loans each from the Gulshan branch of Farmers Bank in 2016 and transferred the amount to the ‘important’ person’s account on Nov 16 of the same year.
The ACC decided to investigate the issue after examining written complaints it had received, the officials said.