The Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate filed separate cases against the Crescent Group under the Money Laundering Act for siphoning off foreign currency equivalent to Tk919.56 crore abroad.
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) Chairman M Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan disclosed the information on Wednesday at a press briefing at their headquarters, reports BSS.
The NBR Chairman said following specific allegations of money laundering, three separate case were lodged with the Chawkbazar police station against three organizations belonging to the Crescent Group by the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate.
“Out of the 17 accused, four are from Crescent Group while 13 others are officials of Janata Bank Ltd,” Mosharraf said adding that one of the main accused of the cases, MA Kader, chairman of Crescent Leather Products and Crescent Tanneries, was held by the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate on Wednesday afternoon.
The three other accused of the Crescent Group are managing director of Crescent Tanneries Sultana Begum, Remax Footwear Chairman Abdul Aziz and Managing Director Litun Jahan Mira.
Mosharraf said the accused would be produced before court on Thursday seeking remand. “Additionally, steps have already been taken so that the accused of these cases cannot go abroad into hiding,”
Out of the three sued Crescent Group firms, Crescent Leather Products has allegedly laundered Tk422.46 crore abroad through export bills of Janata Bank Ltd followed by Tk481.26 crore by Remax Footwear and Tk15.84 crore by Crescent Tanneries Ltd.
Reiterating the government’s “zero tolerance” stance against corruption, the NBR chairman said they are in a strong position against money laundering, drugs and any kind of smuggling.
