People like PK Halder must face music: HC

However powerful the corrupt and money launders like Proshanta Kumar Halder alias PK Halder are, they must be brought to book, and they cannot be spared under any circumstances, the High Court observed yesterday.

The court also said the government agencies concerned are bound to protect public properties in accordance with the law and the country's constitution.

The HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Ahmed Sohel came up with the observation while virtually hearing a suomuto rule issued by it questioning the inaction of the authorities concerned in arresting Halder and bringing him back to the country.

The bench asked the Anti-Corruption Commission and the government to submit the documents relevant to the issuance of an arrest warrant for Halder by a lower court, confiscating his assets and cases filed against him before the HC by December 9.

The court also fixed December 9 for holding further hearing and passing an order on this issue.

During yesterday's hearing, ACC lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan told the bench that the commission has applied to Interpol through the home ministry to arrest Halder.

The Interpol has sought a court order on issuing the arrest warrant against Halder and accordingly the ACC has applied to a senior special judge's court in Dhaka to issue an arrest warrant against Halder, he said, adding that the ACC is yet to receive the order of arrest warrant from the Dhaka court.

The lawyer added that the authorities concerned have confiscated 53 bank accounts and unmovable properties worth Tk 43 crore of Halder.

Issuing the suomuto rule, the HC bench on November 18 wanted to know what steps have been taken to arrest Halder, who fled the country after allegedly siphoning around Tk 10,200 crore from some non-banking financial institutions, and to bring him back to the country.

The court ordered the authorities concerned of the government and the ACC to explain in 10 days the steps taken to arrest and bring Halder back home.

In the rule, the court also asked the authorities to show causes as to why their inaction and failure in arresting and bringing Halder back home should not be declared illegal.

On October 21 this year, another HC bench directed the law enforcement authorities to arrest Halder immediately after his return home.

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

The three other NBFIs from which Halder allegedly embezzled crores of Taka are People's Leasing and Financial Services, FAS Finance and Investment, and Bangladesh Industrial Finance Company.

In an investigation, the central bank found that Tk 1,596 crore was transferred from ILFSL in violation of the rules through 48 accounts of various organisations related to the directors and shareholders of the firm, according to BB officials.

Halder came to the limelight during the anti-casino drives last year. The ACC opened investigation into the involvement of 43 people, including Halder, in the illegal casino business.

The government issued a travel ban on him on October 3 last year. But he managed to flee the country.

The ACC on January 8 this year filed a case against Halder on charges of illegally amassing wealth worth Tk 275 crore.

Following a petition filed by two depositors, the HC on January 21 directed the Bangladesh Bank and all private banks to freeze the accounts of Halder, his five relatives, Bank Asia's former managing director Erfanudidn Ahmed and Halder's aide Uzzal Kumar Nondi for allegedly misappropriating funds.

The HC ordered the government to seize the passports of 20 people, including Halder, his wife Susmita Saha and his brother Pritish Kumar Halder.

The court also directed the authorities not to allow transfer ownership of any of their movable and immovable properties, including stock, cash and cars, to any persons or entities until the disposal of the case.