Published on 12:00 AM, April 07, 2017

'Embezzling Tk 3cr'

ACC sues ex-Padma Oil boss Khair

Files two cases against six more including four high-ups of state-run company

Anti-Corruption Commission yesterday lodged two cases against former managing director of Padma Oil Company Ltd for "embezzling more than Tk 3 crore" from two  projects of the state-run oil company.

Abul Khair is now holding the post of MD of state-run Jamuna Oil Company Ltd.

Six more including four high-ups of Padma Oil were also sued.

ACC Assistant Director Md Sirajul Haque lodged the cases with Sadarghat Police Station in Chittagong city, said Marjina Akter, officer-in-charge (OC) of the police station.

Complainant Sirajul Haque told The Daily Star that a case was lodged over embezzlement of Tk 2.75 crore from a project on installing the Hydrant line, an aviation fueling system, at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in fiscal 1995-96.

Three accused in the case are construction firm Max Oil & Engineering Works Ltd's MD Fahim Zaman Pathan, Padma Oil's official project director (PD) Md Ali Hossain, and Padma Oil's MD Abul Khair.

Through installing only 1,256 meter out of scheduled 2,400-meter hydrant line, the three with mutual connivance misappropriated the money, said the ACC official.

The corruption was detected when the work was cross-checked by independent engineers, he added. 

Another case was filed against five people including Khair for misappropriating around Tk 33 lakh during construction of a three-storey office of Padma Oil at Doulatpur in Khulna in 1996. The money was embezzled by not doing the work as per schedule, said ACC official Sirajul.

The five accused in the case are: Padma Oil Co Ltd's MD Abul Khair, its PD Md Nurul Amin, deputy managers engineer Saleki Ahmed Inul Abbasi, engineer KM Abdur Rahim, and construction firm Md Yunus & Company's MD Anisur Rahaman.