The Criminal Investigation Department’s investigation in the case against expelled Juba League leader Ismail Hossain Chowdhury Samrat over laundering Tk 195 crore has remained stuck for nearly two years.
The CID investigation in the case against another expelled JL leader Khaled Mahmud Bhuiyan over laundering Tk 8 crore has also remained stalled, said the investigators.
The investigators said that the delays in getting replies from Malaysian, Singapore and Thai authorities to their queries had put their investigations into an uncertain state.
CID special superintendent for financial crimes Humayun Kabir said that they had requested information from three countries — Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand — about the money laundering by Samrat and Khaled through the foreign ministry on October 25, 2020 but were yet to get any response.
He said that the department wanted to know how much asset Samrat and Khaled had accumulated in those countries as the information would serve as incriminating evidence in the cases.
‘We have also sent reminders to those countries through the proper channels of home and foreign ministries on several occasions, but there were no replies,’ said the CID officer on Saturday.
Four cases were filed against Samrat by the Rapid Action Battalion, the CID and the Anti-Corruption Commission after he was arrested by the RAB on October 6, 2019 during a drive against illegal casino business and bars.
Samrat, who had earlier received bail in the three other cases, also secured bail in the money laundering case on August 22. He was later released from the prison cell of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University where he stayed for most of his custody time on health grounds.
Samrat and his associates staged a major showdown in the capital on August 26 afternoon when he went to Dhanmondi Road No. 32 to place a floral wreath at the portrait of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Samrat is facing cases in connection with money laundering, operating illegal casino business, running unauthorised bars, possessing illicit arms and accumulating illegal wealth.
The CID on September 13, 2020 filed a case against him on the charge of laundering at least Tk 195 crore to Malaysia and Singapore.
The CID found that Samrat had visited Singapore 35 times, Malaysia thrice, Dubai twice and Hong Kong once during the eight years between 2011 and 2019.
According to the CID case statement against Samrat, he has amassed wealth by carrying out various prohibited activities at Motijheel, Fakirapool, Paltan and Kakrail in the capital.
An investigator said that a major part of the investigation into the money laundering case was carried out at the inquiry stage.
The CID investigation so far has confirmed that Samrat has siphoned off Tk 195 crore to Malaysia and Singapore, but for the completeness of the investigation the department needs to trace the money and the way the money has been laundered.
The CID has not yet obtained this information from the Malaysia and Singapore authorities, for which the investigation remains stuck, said the investigators.
Of the three other cases against Samrat, RAB filed two in connection with his possession of illegal firearms and drugs while ACC filed one case as he owned properties worth Tk 222.88 crore beyond his legal sources of income.
Charge sheets were filed against Samrat in the three cases filed by the RAB and the ACC but charges were yet to be framed against him in the cases, said Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Court public prosecutor Abdullah Abu.
The RAB launched the anti-casino drive in the capital on September 18, 2019 by raiding Fakirerpool Young Men’s Club.
The elite force also arrested then Dhaka south city Juba League organising secretary Khaled Mahmud Bhuiyan in connection with casino operation in the club.
More than 50 raids were conducted in different parts of the country and 275 people were arrested for their alleged involvement in unauthorized casino business and corruption.
The arrested people have amassed vast amounts of money and huge properties through illegal means and laundered money abroad, said investigators.
