The Anti-Corruption Commission on Sunday approved 13 separate cases against 31 individuals, including the chair, managing directors, and directors of 13 overseas companies, on the charges of embezzling Tk 1,159 crore through a syndicate that overcharged workers bound for Malaysia.
The commission approved the cases at a meeting at its headquarters in Dhaka, said ACC director general (prevention) Akhter Hossain.
According to the ACC findings, the accused, while holding various positions in the 13 recruiting agencies formed a syndicate and embezzled the money violating registration conditions.
Instead of the government-fixed amount of Tk 78,990, they charged each worker five times more to send them to Malaysia.
They illegally collected money and were involved in transferring, converting, and laundering the money and, as a result, workers suffered financial losses while the government鈥檚 reputation was tarnished, said the findings.
A case was approved against Akash Bhraman owner Monsur Ahmed Kalam over allegations of embezzling Tk 135.55 crore while another case against Rahim Haque and Mahfujul Haque of Winner Overseas Ltd for embezzling Tk 59.83 crore.
The commission approved a case against Shahadat Hossain (Taslim), managing director of Shaheen Travels on the charges of embezzling Tk 123.98 crore while it approved a case against Sheikh Mohammad Shahidur Rahman, Mahbubur Rahman and Md Shamim Hasan of Navira Limited for embezzling Tk 81.43 crore.
The commission also approved a case against Md KM Mobarak Ullah, Md Abul Kalam Azad, Nawshad Ara Aktar, Hasna Aktar Azad of Adeb Air Travels & Tours, for embezzling Tk 123.27 crore.
The commission approved a case against Nazma Aktar, ZU Sayed, Juhana Subaita, and Zisan Sayed of United Manpower Consultancy Ltd for embezzling Tk 59.14 crore.
The commission approved a case against Greenland Overseas proprietor Rehana Arjuman Hye for embezzling Tk 79.61 crore whiel it also approved a case against PR Overseas limited managing聽 Golam Rakib and its another official Iman Aktar Punom for embezzling Tk 79.84 crore.
A case was approved against Md Shafiqul Alam (Firoz), Nahida Aktar, and Rawshan Ara Parvin, AKM Mosharraf Hossain of Zahrat Associate for embezzling Tk 116.24 crore while a case was also approved against Anonno Apurbo Recruiting Agency proprietor Mohiuddin Ahmed for embezzling Tk 53.23 crore.
The commission also approved a case against Jannat Overseas owner Lima Begum for embezzling Tk 63.58 crore while it also approved a case against Midway Overseas Limited owners Mohammad Rafiqul Halder Bhuyain and Kazi Aditi Rubaiyat for embezzling Tk 62.29 crore.
The commission also approved another case against South Point Overseas Limited owners Monjur Kader, Sadia Monjur, Ahmed Ataur Rahman, Ahmed Khaled Lubnani, and Ahmed Faisal Ramadani for embezzling Tk 112.77 crore.
Earlier on March 11, the commission filed 12 cases against owners and officials of 12 recruiting agencies, including former finance minister AHM Mustafa Kamal and his family members, among 32 people, on the charges of embezzling Tk 1,128 crore by extracting unlawful amounts for fees from migrant workers bound for Malaysia.
