CIID seeks remand of Crescent chairman

Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID) yesterday sought a five-day remand to quiz MA Kader, chairman of Crescent Leather Products and Crescent Tanneries, in connection with one of the three cases filed over laundering Tk 919 crore in foreign currencies.

The investigator of the case, CIID Inspector Shakera Khatun, submitted a petition with the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court of Dhaka to interrogate Kader.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Md Aminul Haque fixed February 11 for hearing on the remand prayer in presence of MA Kader. The court also directed jail authorities to produce MA Kader before it on the scheduled date.

The remand prayer said Kader knows the whereabouts of other fugitive accused and the laundered money.

CIID on January 30 arrested Kader. The following day, he was sent to jail after being produced before another Dhaka court. Shekera Khatun said she found evidence of charges brought against the accused, and that he should be in prison until the probe is completed.

The move came after CIID found that 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 that against Kader, 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 current and former officials of Janata Bank -- with Chawkbazar Police Station.

On January 31, Janata Bank filed five cases with the First Money Loan Court of Dhaka (Artharin Adalat) against five companies of Crescent Leather Products and Crescent Tanneries for illegally realising Tk 3,572 crore.

The five companies are Crescent Leather Products Ltd, Rupali Composite Leatherwear Ltd, Crescent Tanneries Ltd, Lexco Ltd and Remex Footwear Ltd.

The five companies, sister concerns of Crescent Leather Products and Crescent Tanneries, took loan of Tk 3,572 crore from the Janata Bank's Imamganj Corporate Branch.