PK Halder to face series of cases

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is going to file a series of cases against Prashanta Kumar Halder alias PK Halder, who allegedly laundered thousands of crores of taka abroad through a number of non-banking financial institutions (NBFIs).

Meanwhile, the graft watchdog has completed its investigation into the alleged money laundering by PK Halder, former managing director of International Leasing and Financial Services Limited (ILFSL) and NRB Global Bank.

Multiple high-level sources at the ACC have confirmed the matter to The Business Standard.

While PK Halder was the managing director of Reliance Finance, an NBFI, he made his relatives independent directors of several other leasing companies – including People's Leasing – allegedly to swindle money.

Together, they allegedly misappropriated Tk3,000 crore of People's Leasing's depositors in various ways, leaving the company in serious trouble.

During the investigation, ACC Deputy Director and Investigation Officer Gulshan Anwar Pradhan froze Tk2,976 crore of PK Halder and his associates' money upon a court order.

Sources at the ACC said the investigation is almost at its final stage and a number of cases could be filed next week.

Although six to seven cases will be filed initially, gradually many cases could be filed. The ACC is planning a separate case for each incident of embezzlement, they added.

According to sources, Nowsherul Islam, a former director of International Leasing, deposited Tk3,520 crore into his bank accounts – from International Leasing, FAS Leasing, and People's Leasing – between 2015 and 2019 by showing loans in the name of a fake company, and later withdrew Tk2,432 crore. The ACC has frozen his accounts containing Tk952 crore.

Mamataz Begum deposited Tk4 crore over a few years by showing loans in the name of a fake company and withdrew Tk2.5 crore. The ACC has frozen her accounts containing Tk2.69 crore.

Basudev Banerjee deposited Tk764 crore in multiple accounts by showing loans in the name of a fake company and withdrew Tk462 crore. The ACC has frozen his accounts containing Tk4.64 crore.

Over a few years, Papia Banerjee deposited Tk5.35 crore in her accounts by showing loans in the name of a fake company and withdrew Tk34 crore. The ACC has frozen her accounts containing Tk61 lakh.

According to the ACC's investigation sources, PK Halder crippled several financial institutions by swindling a huge amount from them – using different people in the same way.

At least 82 accounts, containing Tk2,976 crore, have been frozen.

The Anti-Corruption Commission has been carrying out an investigation against PK Halder for a long time.

According to the investigation, PK Halder swindled at least Tk11,000 crore from various organisations.

ACC sources said that the amount of money found so far in the investigation may increase further.

Of this, he embezzled around Tk3,500 crore from International Leasing, they said.

Using the same tactic, he allegedly embezzled and laundered about Tk2,200 crore from FAS Finance, Tk2,500 crore from Reliance Finance and about Tk3,000 crore from People's Leasing.

The ACC said there is almost no mortgage against all the money collected in the name of loans and as a result, the chances of repaying the loans are slim.

Apart from this, the ACC received evidence from secret sources that PK Halder laundered around Tk1,000 crore in Singapore, India and Canada.

Meanwhile, the ACC filed a case against PK Halder on 8 January last year for allegedly acquiring illegal assets worth around Tk275 crore. The case is also under investigation.

On 28 June, PK Halder, who is abroad, appealed to the current managing director of ILFSL to make arrangements for his return to the country.

Although the court allowed it, PK Halder did not return and an arrest warrant was issued against him through Interpol.

The Dhaka Special Judge's Court has already ordered the seizure of all PK Halder's immovable property.