ACC finds Tk 293.6m laundering by Destiny

FE Report The Anti-corruption Commission (ACC) has again detected evidence of money laundering to the tune of Tk.293.6 million against Destiny Group. Destiny officials laundered the money to the US through an American company named Atlas Aviation of Best Air Ltd, a concern of the group, ACC Public Relations Officer Pranab Kumar Bhattacharya told The Financial Express Tuesday. "The money was transferred in two installments-first installment amounted to about Tk 240 million while the second installment was Tk 53.6 million," he said. A five-member probe team of the commission led by its Deputy Director Mojahar Ali Sarder detected the case. The probe team unearthed the scam when they began probing into the allegation of illegal transfer of money in several countries like Hong Kong, Canada and the USA. "ACC already found the evidence of money laundering to US and Hong Kong and is probing into allegation," Mr Bhattacharya said. The two key persons of the company-- Managing Director Rafiqul Amin and Destiny 2000 Ltd Chairman Mohammad Hossain have already obtained Canadian citizenship. They also have a company named Saft-tech Online HK Ltd operating in Hong Kong, he added. The probe team started, investigation after it got information about Destiny Group's key persons business in Canada and Hong Kong. ACC authorities will try to bring back the laundered money, sources said. The anti-graft body filed two cases against 22 senior executives of the Destiny Group in July 31 last year including its president M Harun-ur-Rashid, also former army chief, and Managing Director (MD) Mohammad Rafiqul Amin for allegedly laundering about Tk 32.85 billion. The cases were filed separately with Kalabagan Police Station by the ACC assistant director, Towfiqul Islam, and deputy director Mozahar Ali Sardar under the Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2004 and the Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2012. Destiny Group MD Rafiqul Alam, Director Lt Col (Retd) Didarul Alam and Destiny 2000 Ltd Chairman Mohammad Hossain are now in jail.