A Dhaka court has granted a three-day remand for former chairman of Fareast Islami Life Insurance, MA Khaleq, in a corruption case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on charges of embezzling company funds.
Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Sabbir Foyez issued the order on Monday following a remand petition filed by the ACC.
According to court sources, ACC Deputy Director and investigating Officer Moshiur Rahman had sought a seven-day remand for questioning Khaleq in connection with a case involving the misappropriation of funds under the pretext of constructing the company’s building.
ACC Public Prosecutor Tarikul Islam argued in favour of the remand, while defense lawyers sought bail and dismissal of the remand plea. After hearing both sides, the court approved a three-day remand.
The remand petition stated that during his tenure as chairman, MA Khaleq, in collusion with other accused persons, abused his authority and embezzled money from the company.
It alleged that Fareast Islami Life Insurance purchased 33.56 decimal of land and a building for Tk 207.60 crore, of which Tk 45 crore was transferred to the seller.
Out of that amount, MA Khaleq allegedly received Tk 10 crore. On 24 March, 2015, seller Md Azhar Khan reportedly misappropriated Tk 5 crore in Khaleq’s name, Tk 2.62 crore in the name of his wife, Sabiha Khaleq, and Tk 7.87 crore in the name of their daughter, Sarwat Simin Khaleq.
The ACC argued that remanding the accused was necessary to uncover who else was involved in the embezzlement and to trace the full network behind the misappropriation.
