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The testimony of 11 prosecution witnesses has been completed in the corruption case against S Alam Group Chairman Mohammad Saiful Alam (S Alam), former finance executive Prashanta Kumar (PK) Halder and 11 others over allegations of abuse of power, loan fraud and embezzlement.
The latest witness, Asadul Azad, Assistant Vice-President of First Security Islami Bank PLC, testified before Judge Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun of Dhaka Special Judge’s Court-5 on Sunday.
Following his deposition, defence counsel Niaz Morshed cross-examined the witness on behalf of accused Rashedul Haque, who is currently in jail.
Lawyer Mohammad Babul Bepari, representing accused Nahida Runai, sought a deferment of the cross-examination, which the court allowed.
The court fixed August 9 for the remaining cross-examination and the testimony of the investigation officer, who is expected to be the final prosecution witness.
Court bench assistant Arif Hossain said 10 witnesses had testified earlier, and Sunday’s proceedings brought the total to 11. Once the investigating officer gives evidence, the prosecution’s witness stage will conclude.
On January 19 this year, the court framed charges against S Alam, PK Halder and the other accused, formally opening the trial.
The other accused include S Alam Group Vice-Chairman Abdus Samad; directors Mohammad Abdullah Hasan and Shahana Ferdous; former Executive Vice-President of Reliance Finance Limited, now Aviva Finance Limited, Rashedul Haque; former manager Nahida Runai; former Senior Vice-President Kazi Ahmed Jamal; former deputy manager Jumaratul Banna; and former Marine Vegetable Oils Managing Director Zahir Ahmed, directors Tipu Sultan, Md Ishaq and Md Abdullah Al Mamun.
Rashedul Haque and Nahida Runai are currently in custody, while the remaining accused are absconding.
According to the prosecution, the accused conspired to secure approval for a Tk 325 million term loan on August 12, 2013, in the name of the shell company Messrs Mostafa & Co. The loan was disbursed on October 9, 2013, and the funds were subsequently transferred to S Alam Super Edible Oil Ltd and allegedly misappropriated.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case on July 2 last year through Assistant Director Mahmudul Hasan. Following the investigation, the ACC submitted a charge sheet against the 13 accused on October 16. On January 11, the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court accepted the charge sheet and transferred the case to the Special Judge’s Court for trial.