ZCZC
BSS-54
JAIL-BFDC-EMBEZZELMENT
Three including a Malaysian jailed for embezzling BFDC money
DHAKA, Dec 23, 2020 (BSS) – Three persons including a Malaysian have been jailed for embezzling around Tk 3.5 crore in the name of buying materials and equipment of Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (BFDC).
Judge Sheikh Hafizur Rahman of Dhaka’s Special Judge’s Court-9 pronounced the verdict today.
John Noel, an official of Messer’s Novelco (M) of Malaysia, and Khandaker Shahidul, a local representative of the equipment supplier company, were sentenced to two years’ imprisonment and a fine of Tk 10,000 with another month’s imprisonment for non-payment of fine.
Shafiqul Islam, director of ‘Purchasing Project’, has been sentenced to 3 years imprisonment and fined Tk 10,000.
The court sentenced him to one more month in jail for non-payment of fine.
In addition, a fine of total 30,420,20 taka was imposed on the trio, and an order was passed to forfeit 91,260,60 taka illegally embezzled by them, in favor of the state.
As the accused in the case are absconding, the court has issued a warrant against them.
Hamidul Hasan, deputy director of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), filed a case with the Tejgaon Industrial Area Police Station on October 7, 2015, alleging financial loss of more than 3.46 crore taka to the government in the name of buying equipment to modernize the FDC.
John Noel, Khandaker Shahidul, Shafiqul Islam and the then managing director of BFDC Piyush Bandyopadhyay have been accused in the case.
On March 2, 2017, Piyush Bandyopadhyay was acquitted and a chargesheet was filed against the three.
The case was investigated by ACC Deputy Director Farid Ahmed Patwari.
On January 22, 2018, the court framed charges against the three accused. Out of the 21 witnesses in the chargesheet, 20 testified at different times.
BSS/CORR/RQ/KU/2117 HRS