Charge-sheet against JKG Healthcare’s Sabrina, Ariful in a week

The Detective Branch (DB) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police is going to submit a charge-sheet to the court in a case lodged over the JKG Healthcare's Covid-19 test scam within a week.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan and DB's Additional Commissioner Abdul Baten told the media on Sunday about it.

The investigators claimed to have found credible evidence against JKG's Chairman Dr Sabrina Arif Chowdhury and Chief Executive Officer Ariful Haque Chowdhury over their involvement in the scam.

Several DB sources confirmed it to The Business Standard.

"We have received directives from the government's high command to submit the charge-sheet very soon. Maybe, we will do it within next 3-4 working days," said a DB additional deputy commissioner involved in probing the case.

Another source said the two chief accused, Sabrina and Ariful, may not be produced before the court to record their confessional statements over the fraud.

"Investigators may submit the charge-sheet without recording their confessional statements under section 164," he said.

Golam Mostafa Russell, deputy commissioner of Tejgaon Division of the DB, told The Business Standard that they have already busted the case.

"Now, we are preparing to submit the charge-sheet. Those who were involved in the scam would be mentioned in the charge-sheet," he added.

Meanwhile, a Dhaka court on Monday sent Dr Sabrina to jail in the case, reports BSS.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Atikul Islam passed the order as the DB produced the suspended registrar doctor of the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases before the court after the end of her two-day remand and pleaded to keep her behind the bars.

Earlier on July 17, police took Sabrina on a two-day fresh remand.

Sabrina was shown arrested on July 12 after interrogating her primarily at the office of deputy commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Tejgaon Zone.

JKG Healthcare run by Sabrina and her husband Ariful Haque Chowdhury was realising money from suspected patients for coronavirus test whereas the company had inked a deal with the government to conduct the test free of cost.

The fraud company was even faking the signatures and seals of government agencies in making forged corona test reports while throwing away the samples taken from suspected patients.

The Anti-Corruption Commission is also probing Dr Sabrina's illegal wealth.

The national anti-graft body sought documents about Dr Sabrina's wealth and other information from seven different institutions and organisations.

Selina Akter Moni, deputy director of the Anti-Corruption Commission, sent letters to Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit, National Board of Revenue,

Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, Directorate General of Health Services, Joint Stock Registration and two other organisations.