Selim Prodhan amassed Tk 57.79 crore
It was Tk 12.27 crore illegal wealth mentioned in a graft case filed against online casino "kingpin" Selim Prodhan.
But during investigation, it was revealed that Selim's illegal wealth was five times higher than that mentioned in the FIR.
An Anti-Corruption Commission source said Selim amassed about Tk 57.79 crore illegally and laundered about Tk 22 crore to Thailand and the US.
The source said the investigators have summed up their findings and will submit it before the commission.
In September, the Criminal Investigation Department submitted a charge-sheet against Selim in another case for siphoning off about Tk 13.28 crore.
Selim, who came to the fore last year when the law enforcement agency conducted drives against illegal casino business, allegedly amassed the wealth from online casino business, say investigators.
Preferring to be unnamed, an ACC officer told The Daily Star that in his 2011-12 income tax return, Selim mentioned that he owns 40 percent share, worth about Tk 6.9 lakh, of Japan-Bangladesh Security Printing and Papers Ltd.
However, Japan-Bangladesh Security Printing and Papers in its 2011-12 income tax return mentioned that Selim's paid-up capital was Tk 69 lakh and his share money deposit was about Tk 23.55 crore.
"Selim concealed the information of Tk 23 crore in his tax returns," the source said.
Verifying the documents, it is also revealed that the Japan-Bangladesh Security Printing and Papers made Tk 29.33 lakh profit in 2010 and Tk 1.46 crore in 2011. But Selim mentioned that he took Tk 8 crore loan from it.
"It is completely baseless," the ACC official said, adding that Selim could not produce any documents against his claim of taking loans.
Selim disclosed Tk 11.31 crore investment in FDR, share market and saving certificates, but could not show the source of money.
The ACC also found Selim has illegal immovable properties worth about Tk 49.46 lakh and deposits of about Tk 9.84 lakh in different bank accounts.
"His illegal wealth could be about Tk 35.41 crore," he said.
In the probe, the ACC also found that Selim deposited Tk 5.49 crore with Bangkok Bank and United Overseas Bank (Thai) and withdrew Tk 5.58 crore.
Investigators have been able to trace two cash deposits worth about Tk 1.22 crore and four cash withdrawals worth about Tk 2.74 crore from Selim's four accounts with Siam Commercial Bank, United Overseas Bank and Bangkok Bank between October 7, 2013, and October 10, 2016.
On September 14, 2016, KT Corporation deposited about 3.15 crore with Selim's Global Trading and Property Ltd's account at United Overseas Bank as telecommunication consultancy fees.
Selim is the owner and shareholder of seven companies where he has investment of about Tk 10.04 crore.
Earlier, investigators detected that Selim spent Tk 46.41 lakh in the US in buying casino chips and other materials.
ACC Deputy Director Gulshan Anowar Prodhan was assigned to investigate the case.
Comments