The Anti-Corruption Commission on Thursday filed six separate cases against 10 people, including the chairmen, managing directors and directors of six recruiting agencies, on charges of embezzling Tk聽525.22 crore through a syndicate that overcharged workers bound for Malaysia.
The commission filed the cases with its integrated district office in Dhaka-1 following approval of the commission at a meeting at its headquarters in the capital Dhaka, said ACC director general (prevention) Akhter Hossain.
According to the case document, the accused, while holding various positions at the six recruiting agencies, formed a syndicate and embezzled the money, violating registration conditions.
Instead of the government-set amount of Tk聽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, said ACC findings.
The anti-graft agency filed a case against Amin Tours & Travels owner Ruhul Amin on charges of embezzling Tk聽124.45 crore from 7,430 workers.
A case was filed against Merit Trade International Ltd chairman Hassan Ahamed Chowdhury Kiron and its managing director Shahina Ferdous over allegations of embezzling Tk 58.44 crore from 3,489 workers.
The commission filed a case against Sadia International proprietor Shameem Ahmed Chowdhury Noman on charges of embezzling Tk 55.62 crore from 3,321 workers.
The ACC also filed a case against Imperial Resources Ltd chairman Md Iqbal Hossain and its managing director Bodoruzza Chowdhury for alleged embezzlement of Tk聽135.69 crore from 8,101 workers.
The commission filed a case against RRC Human Resource Services Ltd chairman Md Moniruzzaman, and its managing director Alamgir Kabir on charges of embezzling Tk聽87.13 crore from 5,202 workers.
The commission also filed a case against Thanex International Ltd鈥檚 former managing director Abdullah Sahed, director Joynul Abedin Nomani and managing director Somsher Ahmed over allegations of embezzling Tk 63.88 crore from 3,788 workers.
On September 14, the ACC filed 13 cases against 31 people of 13 overseas recruitment agencies for allegedly embezzling Tk聽1,159 crore in the same way.
The 13 recruiting agencies named in the cases were Aakash Vromon, Winner Overseas, Shahin Travels, Navira Ltd, Adib Air Travels and Tours, United Manpower Consultancy Ltd, Greenland Overseas, PR Overseas Ltd, Jaharat Associated Ltd, Apurba Recruiting Agency, M/S Jannat Overseas, Midway Overseas Ltd and South Point Overseas Ltd.
Earlier on March 11, the commission also 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 charges of embezzling Tk 1,128 crore by extracting unlawful amounts for fees from migrant workers bound for Malaysia.
