ACC arrests 3 more associates of PK Halder

The Anti-Corruption Commission has arrested three associates of Prashant Kumar Halder alias PK Halder on charges of assisting the latter in money laundering and embezzlement.

Syed Abed Hasan, former acting managing director of International Leasing and Financial Services Ltd, Nahida Runai, vice president, and Rafsan Riyad Chowdhury, senior manager, were arrested from the capital’s Segunbagicha area on Tuesday.

According to the ACC, some officials and members of the board of International Leasing and Financial Services Ltd embezzled Tk351 crore from the institution in the names of several fake establishments.

They embezzled Tk70.82 crore in the name of Anan Chemical Ltd, Tk69.80 crore in the name of Sukhada Properties Ltd, Tk66.98 crore in the name of Ms Barna, Tk54.55 crore in the name of Rahman Chemicals Ltd and Tk83.64 crore in the name of Moon Enterprise.

Meanwhile, the commission's investigating team received information on the movable and immovable assets of Nahida Runai, worth over Tk28 crore. She was in control of at least four organizations of PK Halder.

Also read - High Court: ACC facilitated PK Halder’s escape

On January 25, the anti-graft watchdog filed five separate cases against 33 individuals, including Syed Abed Hasan, Nahida Runai and Rafsan Riyad Chowdhury, belonging to five organizations in connection with PK Halder’s scams.

It may be recalled that taking into cognizance a report published in a national daily on November 18, 2020 mentioning that the ACC would seek Interpol’s help in apprehending PK Halder, the High Court on November 19 issued several suo moto rules to ascertain what steps had been taken to extradite and arrest him. 

Earlier on January 8, 2020, the ACC filed a case against Halder on charges of amassing illegal wealth worth around Tk274 crore. 

He is accused of embezzling Tk1,500 crore from International Leasing and Financial Services Ltd. Halder had allegedly embezzled Tk3,500 crore from different financial agencies.