ILFSL scam: ACC summons four top officials of People’s Leasing

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has summoned four top officials of People's Leasing for questioning. This is being done as part of its investigation into money laundering by Proshanta Kumar Halder, alias PK Halder, former managing director of International Leasing and Financial Services Limited (ILFSL) and NRB Global Bank.

ACC Deputy Director Gulshan Anwar Pradhan, also the investigating officer of the case, sent a letter on Sunday, summoning the four.

They are: Sami Huda, managing director and CEO of People's Leasing and Financial Services; Kazi Ahmed Jamal, executive vice-president; Manik Lal Sammaddar, CFO; and Mahmuda Kaiser, head of credit. 

All of them have been asked to be present at the ACC headquarters on 14 January.

The ACC has been investigating PK Halder for a long time. The probe has found that PK Halder embezzled at least Tk11,000 crore from various organisations. More embezzled money might be found as the investigation is still underway.

The probe also found that of the Tk11,000 crore, PK Halder appropriated about Tk3,500 crore from International Leasing, taken as a loan. Employing the same tactic, he and his vested interests embezzled and smuggled about Tk2,200 crore from FAS Finance, Tk2,500 crore from Reliance Finance and about Tk3,000 crore from People's Leasing.

It goes without saying that there is hardly a mortgage against all these loans. 

The ACC says the chances of repaying the debt are very slim.

Further, the ACC has received information from secret sources that PK Halder smuggled thousands of crores to Singapore, India and Canada.

Meanwhile, the anti-graft body filed a case against Halder on 8 January for allegedly acquiring illegal assets worth around Tk275 crore. The case is also under investigation.

On 28 June, PK Halder, who is abroad, appealed to the incumbent managing director of ILFSL to make arrangements for his return to Bangladesh.

Although the court allowed his return, PK Halder did not come back and an arrest warrant was issued against him through Interpol. 

The Dhaka Special Judge's Court has already ordered the seizure of all his real estate.