17 members of Destiny-like MLM group arrested for swindling 2 lakh people

Rapid Action Battalion arrested 17 members of a multi-level marketing company -- like Destiny Group -- which apparently swindled crores of taka from two lakh people over the last two years.   

A team of Rab arrested them during a raid at the office of "Swisderm International Ltd" in Dhaka's Paltan area yesterday, said Joyita Shilpi, deputy director of Rab-4. 

"It's a company like Destiny Group. They have swindled hard-earn money of thousands of people, as investments in their shady company -- luring them with lofty returns," she told The Daily Star.

"They frequently change their offices so that the victims cannot track them. They rented a space in Paltan area from where they were arrested," she said.

The arrestees are: Kazi Al Amin, the kingpin; Salahuddin; Shiekh Md Abdullah; Monira Yeasmin; Jahid Hasan, Swapan Mia; Shahjahan; Mizanur Rahman; Badsha; Imam Hossain; Abdur Razzak; Mizanur Rahman; Faruk Uddin; Anjuman Ara; Shiekh Robin; Imam Hossain and Asma Begum.

Rab members recovered two laptops, office documents and so-called medicine "S-factor" which they used to sell to members.

Unemployed and insolvent youths were the prime targets of the gang.

In the name of giving platinum, gold, silver and general memberships in the company, they used to take money from them -- with the promise of high returns, Shilpi, also a superintendent of police, said.

The arrestees admitted that the company has nearly two lakh members from whom they took Tk 4,200 to 1,17,000 each -- based on their membership category.

In exchange, they gave the so-called medicine, claiming this is a cure-all for major diseases including cancer, diabetes and heart diseases, Shilpi said. The medicine is not authorised in Bangladesh and the arrestees could not show any documents either, Rab said.

Filing of a case under Special Powers Act is underway. Besides, victims can file case against the company owners, Rab said.