A Chattogram court on Wednesday framed charges and ordered the trial to begin against former land minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Jabed and 35 others in a case involving the embezzlement of Tk 25 crore loan from United Commercial Bank Limited (UCBL) and illegal transfer of funds abroad through hundi.
Chattogram Divisional Special Judge Mizanur Rahman set April 5 for the beginning of witness examinations.
Eight of the accused appeared before the court during the hearing. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is prosecuting the case through public prosecutor Mokarram Hossain.
According to the ACC charge sheet, the loan was approved under the name of Vision Trading, a fictitious company, with Mohammad Forman Ullah Chowdhury of Aramit Group listed as its owner.
The former minister allegedly coordinated the withdrawal of the loan amount through his company’s employees and transferred the money abroad using hundi, subsequently purchasing assets overseas.
The fraudulent transactions took place between 13 October, 2019, and 13 February, 2020.
Besides Jabed, the accused include his wife, former UCBL chairman Rokmila Jaman, former bank director Asifuzzaman Chowdhury, Roksana Jaman Chowdhury, several former bank directors, officials, and employees of Aramit Group.
The ACC submitted the charge sheet on 5 January after completing the investigation.
Initially, 31 individuals were named as accused, but this number later increased to 36 following further investigation.
Two accused have died, and the ACC has recommended their removal from the trial.
The accused face multiple charges under sections 406, 409, 420, 467, 468, 471, and 109 of the Penal Code, along with violations of the Anti-Corruption Act and Money Laundering Prevention Act.
