Court defers hearing of charges against JKG’s Sabrina, 7 others

A Dhaka court has deferred the hearing of charges against JKG Health Care Convenor Dr Sabrina Arif Chowdhury and seven others in a fraud case for issuing fake Covid-19 test certificates, till August 20.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Sarafuzzaman Ansari set the fresh date following a petition filed by the defence counsel in the case on Thursday.

The court also rejected the bail petition filed by defense counsel.

On August 5, the Detective Branch (DB) of Police filed charges against Sabrina and seven others in the case.

DB Inspector Md Liakat Ali, who is the investigation officer of the case, submitted the 12-page charge sheet under Sections 179, 269, 420, 406, 466, 471 and 34 of the Penal Code, to Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Court.

The other seven accused are – JKG Health Care CEO and Sabrina husband Ariful Chowdhury, Abu Sayed Chowdhury, Humayun Kabir Himu and his wife Tanjina Patwary, Biplob Das, Shafiqul Islam Romeo and Jebunnessa. 

All eight accused were previously arrested and were present before the court on Thursday.

Also Read- Police: Dr Sabrina collected pay as JKG chairman

The investigation officer mentioned in the charge sheet that Dr Sabrina and her husband Arif had been the masterminds behind the Covid-19 test scam, and the rest of the accused had been their accomplices.

“Thirty people have been named in the charge-sheet as prosecution witnesses, including the complainant in the case”.

On June 23, a case was filed with Tejgaon police station against six people, including JKG CEO Ariful Chowdhury, for providing fake Covid-19 test reports.

Police arrested Ariful and five other former and current employees of the organization on the same day. Dr Sabrina was arrested on July 12, after police were informed of her alleged involvement.

Sabrina who is also a cardiac surgeon, was suspended from the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) after allegations of irregularities against her surfaced. She and her husband Ariful were remanded twice.

Among the accused, JKG CEO Ariful and former JKG officials Humayun Kabir and his wife Tanzina Patwari have confessed to their crimes, DB Deputy Commissioner (Tejgaon division) Golam Mostofa said.