The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has started investigating money laundering charges against 69 Bangladeshi individuals and institutions whose names appeared in the Panama and Paradise paper leaks.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Lawyer Advocate Khurshid Alam Khan informed the High Court on Monday.
“ACC has sent money laundering documents to CID. Six CID teams are on the case,” the lawyer told the court.
On January 26, the list of 69 individuals and entities named in the Panama and Paradise papers was submitted to the High Court.
Of these, 43 are named in the Panama Papers and 26 in the Paradise Papers.
On October 3, 2021, the High Court said those who have built “Begum Paras” outside the country and siphoned off money abroad to other countries, are the real money launderers and that the ACC should take action against them.
On December 5, 2021, ACC submitted a list of 43 individuals and organizations involved in money laundering to the High Court. The list includes names of individuals and organizations that have appeared in the media in the wake of the Panama Papers scandal.
The next day, on 6 December 2021, the High Court sought a report on action against individuals and organizations appearing in the media after the Panama and Paradise Papers scandals.
The ACC failed to provide the High Court with a report on December 6, 2021, over whether the Bangladeshi nationals who own properties abroad — including Canada, Australia, Singapore and Malaysia — had made the purchases with laundered money due to non-cooperation from government agencies, media reports said.
