Tk 919cr Laundering: Court denies bail to Crescent Leather chair

A Dhaka court yesterday rejected a petition seeking bail for MA Kader, chairman of Crescent Leather Products and Crescent Tanneries, and sent him to jail in connection with one of the three cases filed over laundering Tk 919 crore in foreign currencies.

Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Jasim passed the order after CIID official Anwar Hossain, also the investigation officer of the case, produced Kader before the court.

The IO said he found the evidence of charges brought against the accused and that he should be in prison until the probe is completed.

Moreover, the IO appealed to the court that they would submit a petition within a short time to place the accused on remand for further interrogation about the matter.

On the other hand, the defence submitted a petition seeking bail for the accused, which the magistrate turned down and sent Kader to Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj.

The IO is yet to submit any petitions to show Kader arrested in the two other cases filed with Chawkbazar Police Station.

Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID) on Wednesday arrested MA Kader.

The move came after the CIID found Crescent Group colluded with officials of Janata Bank's Imamganj branch in Dhaka to launder a total of Tk 1,297.65 crore abroad against 657 fake export bills.

Apart from MA Kader, the CIID filed cases under the Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2012 against 16 others -- including Managing Director of Crescent Leather and Crescent Tanneries Sultana Begum, Rimex Footwear Chairman Abdul Aziz, its managing director Litul Jahan Mira and 13 present and former officials of Janata Bank -- with Chawkbazar Police Station.