The trial of 13 individuals, including S Alam Group chairman Mohammed Saiful Alam and former managing director of Reliance Finance Limited (now Aviva Finance Ltd.) Prashanta Kumar (PK) Halder, began on Tuesday.
The accused face charges of embezzling Tk34 crore by abusing power and committing fraud, in a case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
Dhaka Special Judge Court-5, presided over by Judge Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun, framed the charges and set the next hearing for 23 February for witness examination.
ACC public prosecutor Mohammad Tariqul Islam confirmed the development.
Other accused in the case include S Alam Group Vice Chairman Abdus Samad, directors Md Abdullah Hasan and Shahana Ferdous, former executive vice president of Reliance Finance (now Aviva Finance Ltd) Rashedul Haque, former manager Nahida Runai, former senior vice president Kazi Ahmed Jamal, former deputy manager Jumaratul Banna, former managing director of Marine Vegetable Oils Jahir Ahmed, and directors Tipu Sultan, Md Ishak and Md Abdullah Al Mamun.
Of them, Nahida Runai and Rashedul Haque are currently in jail, while the remaining accused remain absconding.
During the hearing, two accused were produced from prison while the others were absent. Lawyers for the present accused requested discharge, but the court rejected their plea and ordered the charges to be formally framed.
Earlier, on 11 January, the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court accepted the charge sheet and transferred the case for trial to Special Judge Court-5.
According to the case, the accused colluded to approve a Tk34 crore loan on 8 August 2013 under the name of AM Trading and disbursed it the following day.
The funds were allegedly transferred to S Alam Super Edible Oil Limited.
The complaint was filed by the company’s deputy director Tahasin Munabil Haque on 2 July last year.
ACC’s investigation led to the filing of a 13-person charge sheet on 16 October.
