ACC arrests PK Halder’s ‘associate’

The Anti-Corruption Commission yesterday arrested Shankha Bepari, an "associate" of Proshanta Kumar Halder, known as PK Halder, who allegedly laundered over Tk 10,000 crore of four non-banking financial institutions (NBFIs) abroad.

He is held in a case filed against PK Halder, former managing director of NRB Global Bank, for amassing about Tk 275 crore beyond the known sources of income.

The ACC filed the case on January 8 last year.

The anti-graft body arrested Shankha following hours of quizzing by its Deputy Director Salahuddin, who is investigating the case.

"Shankha used to abet PK Halder laundering money," ACC Secretary Anwar Hossain Howlader told the media.

"There is a flat under the possession of Shankha in Dhanmondi. But PK Halder bought it," he said.

Earlier, the investigation officer seized PK Halder's two flats and six acres of immovable properties following a court order last month.

According to the case statement, PK Halder has immovable property worth about Tk 187.78 crore. Of the amount, he has investment about Tk 123.54 crore in Lipro International.

He purchased 589 decimals of land for Tk 1 crore in Mymensingh.

In the enquiry, the ACC found that there is about Tk 67.35 crore investment in eight companies.

Besides, documents show he has Tk 32.25 crore worth of moveable property, reads the FIR.

The total amount of his moveable property stands at Tk 99.61 crore, which he amassed directly and indirectly using others' names, said the FIR.

The ACC found that PK Halder has legal income of about Tk 12.48 crore whereas his total wealth -- including moveable and immovable property -- is worth Tk 287.39 crore. "He has amassed Tk 274.91 crore beyond his known sources of income," it said.

He joined NRB Global Bank as its managing director in 2015.

Several enquiries over embezzlement of crores of taka from NBFIs by PK Halder are pending with the ACC.

On Sunday, four depositors of People's Leasing and Financial Service (PLFS), one of the NBFIs, described their plights and sufferings before the High Court for not getting back their money from the PLFS.

The ACC and the home ministry provided relevant documents and papers to the Interpol to arrest PK Halder and bring him back home.

According to Canadian media reports, Halder is now in Toronto. He is a director of P&L Hal Holding Inc, a Canadian corporation.

The three other NBFIs from which PK Halder allegedly misappropriated crores of taka are: International Leasing and Financial Services Limited (ILFSL), FAS Finance and Investment, and Bangladesh Industrial Finance Company.