Fake Covid-19 certificates: HC order on Sabrina's stay petition Monday

The High Court will deliver its order on a petition of JKG Health Care Chairman Dr Sabrina Arif Chowdhury on Monday that sought a stay on trial proceedings against her in a case filed for issuing fake Covid-19 test certificates.

The HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman fixed the date for passing order after holding hearing on the stay petition on Thursday.

Sabrina's lawyer Saifuzzaman Tuhin said his client had submitted an application to the lower court concerned seeking its directive on government to provide her with documents related to the fake Covid-19 certificates allegedly issued by JKG Healthcare on which the case is running against her.

But the trial court rejected her application on August 20. Sabrina then filed a petition with the HC challenging the lower court's rejection order.

In the petition, she (Sabrina) sought stay on the trial proceedings of the case against her, the lawyer added.

On July 12 this year, police arrested Dr Sabrina, wife of JKG Health Care Chief Executive Officer Ariful Chowdhury who was also arrested earlier in the same case.

Md Kamal Hossain, a resident of Mirpur area in Dhaka, filed the case with Tejgaon Police Station on June 23 on charge of issuing fake Covid-19 certificates by the JKG Healthcare.

Dr Sabrina was working as a registrar doctor in the National Heart Institute and Hospital. Although she was working in a government organisation, she gave several interviews to media as the chairman of JKG Health Care, according to police.

She, however, denied her post as JKG Chairman after the scam came to light, police said.

Meanwhile, the health ministry on the same day (July 12) suspended Dr Sabrina Arif Chowdhury in connection with the case.

On June 24, police arrested Dr Sabrina's husband Ariful and four others from Dhaka for allegedly delivering fake coronavirus test reports without carrying out any test.