Court rejects bail of JKG officials

A virtual court in Dhaka yesterday again rejected the bail petition of two officials of JKG Health Care, in a case filed over issuing fake Covid-19 certificates. 

The accused are Humayun Kabir Himu, a graphic designer of JKG Health Care, and his wife Tanzina Patwary, who also worked for the organisation.

Judge KM Emrul Kayesh of Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court passed the order, after the accused's lawyer submitted a criminal appeal against rejection order of the lower court.

Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court on June 24 rejected the couple's bail and sent them to jail after they were produced before it for recording confessional statements in the case.

During yesterday's hearing, their lawyer told the court that their clients were implicated in the case as part of a conspiracy to harass them. Therefore, their bail petition should be granted.

However, prosecution opposed the defence pleas, saying the couple gave confessional statements before magistrates, narrating their involvement in issuing the fake certificates.

Upon hearing both sides, the judge rejected their bail petition.

Earlier JKG Health Chairperson Dr Sabrina Arif Chowdhury, her husband JKG Health Care Chief Executive Officer Ariful Chowdhury and their associate Sayeed Chowdhury were sent to jail after being interrogated on different terms of remand in the same case.

Police arrested Sabrina, also a government official, on July 12, around three weeks after the scam came to light.

Following her arrest, the health ministry suspended her from the post of registrar at National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases for violating rules.

Earlier on June 24, police arrested Ariful and four others for their alleged involvement.