Arms case: Tribunal records deposition against Regent owner Shahed

A tribunal has recorded the deposition of prosecution witnesses against Regent Hospital Chairman Mohammad Shahed Karim, in a case filed under the Arms Act at Uttara police station.

Dhaka Special Tribunal 1 Judge, KM Imrul Kayes, on Tuesday, set Wednesday (September 16) to let Shahed defend himself against the deposition of the prosecution witnesses.

11 out of 14 prosecution witnesses testified before the tribunal on Tuesday.

Tapash Kumer Paul, additional public prosecutor of the tribunal, said: “The court will read out the deposition of the prosecution witnesses to Shahed. If he pleads not guilty to the allegations brought against him, then the court will go forward with the argument.”

“The verdict on the case is expected to be given within this month,” he added.

Investigation officer (IO) of the case, Detective Branch (DB) Inspector, Syrul Islam, submitted the charge sheet of the case against Shahed to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court.

On August 27, the same court indicted Shahed in the case.

On July 19, Shahed led the DB to an abandoned car on Sonargaon Janapath Road in Uttara on a special drive. A pistol, a bullet, a magazine, 10 bottles of phensedyl, and five bottles of liquor were recovered, said DB Additional Commissioner Abdul Baten.

Later, the detectives filed two cases against Shahed with the Uttara West police under the Narcotics Control Act and Arms Act.

On July 6, law enforcement raided the Mirpur and Uttara branches of Regent Hospital and found that the hospital issued  fake Covid-19 certificates to patients and charged excessive fees to patients admitted there.

The Regent Group head office and both hospital branches were sealed off and 16 people, including the chairman, were sued on the charge of issuing fake coronavirus test reports.