The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed four separate cases against former land minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury and 18 others, accusing them of embezzling Tk 316.9 million through approving bank loans in the name of nonexistent companies.
The cases were lodged on Tuesday (November 11) at the ACC's Chattogram office, said ACC Deputy Director Moshiur Rahman.
The accused have been charged under the Penal Code, Prevention of Corruption Act, and Money Laundering Prevention Act.
Among the accused are the former land minister's wife and former UCB PLC chairperson Rukmila Zaman, former executive committee members and directors Bashir Ahmed and Anisuzzaman Chowdhury, as well as several bank officials including Abdul Awal, Abu Bakar Khan, Jamal Uddin, Ziaul Karim Khan, and Zahid Haydar of the bank's Chattogram Port Branch.
Others accused persons include former UCB directors Bajlul Ahmed Babul, M A Sabur, Yunus Ahmed, Nurul Islam Chowdhury, and Asifuzzaman Chowdhury.
Two businessmen linked with Aramit PLC - Mohammad Misbahul Alam (Model Trading) and Mohammad Jahangir Alam (Classic Trading) - have also been accused, along with Pradip Kumar Biswas (Alok International) and two employees of B&B Electronics, Mostafizur Rahman and Didarul Alam.
According to the case statements, the accused colluded to defraud the bank by using fake personal information of rural farmers and part-time labourers - including their NID and photos - to open bank accounts in the names of nonexistent firms.
They also used such accounts to obtain bank loans and later misappropriated Tk 316.9 million through transfers and conversions.
The four cases involve different amounts-- Tk 80 million filed by ACC Deputy Director Moshiur Rahman, Tk 99.9 million filed by Assistant Director Md Mainuddin Ahmed, Tk 52 million filed by Deputy Assistant Director Md Sajib Ahmed, and Tk 85 million filed by Deputy Assistant Director Md Rubel Hossain.
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