20 indicted in nine cases over Hall-Mark scam

A Dhaka court yesterday framed charges against Hall-Mark Chairman Jasmine Islam, Managing Director Tanvir Mahmud and 18 others in nine cases filed in connection with swindling Sonali Bank out of Tk 2,249 crore.

Rejecting the discharge petitions submitted by eight accused, including Jasmine and Tanvir, Judge Md Kamrul Hossain Mollah of the Senior Special Judge's Court framed the charges yesterday and fixed April 21 for the beginning of the trials.

Jasmine and seven others pleaded not guilty.  Jasmine and another accused were on bail while six others, including Tanvir and Tushar Ahmed, are now in jail. The rest are on the run.

Earlier on February 17, the same court framed charges against 19, including Jasmine and Tanvir, in two cases that involved Tk 437 crore.

Bangladesh Bank unearthed a loan scam of Tk 3,500 crore at the Ruposhi Bangla Hotel branch of Sonali Bank in May 2012.

In connivance with some bank officials, the little known Hall-Mark alone took Tk 2,686 crore in loans using forged documents.

The Hall-Mark bosses used forged inland bills, meaning the group opened letters of credit for purchase and sold them to the bank which paid Hall-Mark without verification and documentation.

The central bank later handed the issue to the Anti-Corruption Commission.

In October 2012, the ACC filed 11 cases against 27 top officials of Sonali Bank and Hall-Mark Group.

On August 4, 2013, Jasmine got bail after she pledged to pay back the amount in monthly instalments of Tk 100 crore.

However, she did not pay any money and rather went to the High Court and appealed against the condition of the bail. The High Court cancelled the conditions attached to her bail.

On October 7, 2013, the ACC pressed charges against 25 people in 11 cases for the scam.

Two Sonali Bank officials died after they had been arrested and their names were dropped from the cases.