ACC sues 2 for laundering Tk30cr to Hong Kong

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has sued the project director of Shaheed M Mansur Ali Medical College and 500-bed Hospital in Sirajganj and an equipment supplier on charge of laundering Tk30 crore to Hong Kong.

Its Assistant Director Shajahan Meraz filed the case against project director Dr Krishna Kumar Paul and Zaher Uddin Sarkar, owner of Bengal Scientific Company, on Monday with the commission's integrated district office in Dhaka.

According to the First Information Report (FIR), the project director awarded work order to Bengal Scientific Company following the direct procurement method instead of inviting open tenders.

Zaher placed the work order for supplying equipment and accessories worth Tk132 crore for building the 100 percent government financed institution.

Dr Krishna gave the notification of award without verifying the quotation submitted by the company.

The firm was given approval to spend the amount and was requested to open unchangeable and transferrable Letter of Credit (LC) in US dollar and euro.

The Fervent Company Ltd of Hong Kong, owned by Zaher, was made beneficiary in the LC.

In fiscal year 2018-19, three LCs worth Tk130 crore were opened with Sonali Bank and Janata Bank in favour of the company.

But without receiving any equipment until February this year, more than Tk30 crore was transferred to Fervent as prices for 70 pieces of equipment.

For receiving the money, the supplier showed only shipment documents, and the authorities disbursed the fund.

Dr Krishna claimed that no corruption took place in awarding the work order. 

But the ACC said it had received documentary evidence of corruption and the authority had failed to show the equipment during physical inventory.