Destiny MD Rafiqul denied bail

The High Court today denied bail to two Destiny high officials including its owner Rafiqul Amin in two money laundering cases filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission.

The court rejected the petitions filed by Destiny Group Managing Director Rafiqul and Destiny Multipurpose Cooperative Society Ltd (DMCSL) Chairman Mohammad Hossain, who are now in custody in connection with the cases involving around Tk 4,200 crore.

The bench of Justice Md Moinul Islam Chowdhury and Justice JBM Hassan, however, directed the jail authorities to provide Rafiqul with proper treatment, as his lawyer Ajmalul Hossain informed it that he is seriously ill.   

The judge rejected the bail petitions considering the gravity of offences allegedly committed by the Destiny officials, ACC lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan told The Daily Star.

The ACC filed the two cases in July 2012 with Kalabagan Police Station against 22 Destiny officials on the charge of laundering Tk 4,200 crore.  
The commission on May 4 last year pressed charges against Rafiqul Amin, Destiny 2000 President Lt Gen (retd) Harun-Ar-Rashid, and 49 others in the cases.

They were charged with misappropriating funds through Destiny Tree Plantation project and from DMCSL, according to the charge sheets.

The HC in October 2012 granted bail to Lt Gen (retd) Harun in the two cases, on condition that he will no longer be involved with the group.

On August 10 last year, the HC issued two rules upon the ACC and government to explain as to why Rafiqul and Hossain should not be granted bail in the cases.

After holding hearing on the rules, the HC today delivered the rejection judgment.