The Anti-Corruption Commission yesterday filed a case against a former army official and his three family members for their alleged involvement in embezzling Tk59 crore from 1,451 investors in the name of a multi-purpose cooperative society.
ACC Deputy Director Jahangir Alam filed the case with Banani police station yesterday. The accused in the case are Maj Gen (retired) Jalal Uddin Ahmed, president of Dhara Multi-purpose Cooperative Society; Jalal’s wife Aleya Fatema, also the vice-president of the cooperative; Jalal’s son Talha Ahmed, its general secretary and Jalal’s daughter Radia Ahmed, its joint secretary.
According to the case statement, Dhara Multi-purpose Cooperative Society Limited – founded by Jalal and his wife – collected about Tk59 crore from 1,451 investors alluring them with high interest rates. But Jalal allegedly siphoned off the money to his son and daughter living in the US.
ACC’s Jahangir Alam told the Dhaka Tribune that Jalal retired from the force in 2003, while he and his wife secured permission to run a multi-purpose cooperative from the Cooperatives Department in 2005. The former military official’s alleged embezzlement first came to light in June 2012 when he started to ignore requests from investors who wanted the profits of their investment.
In April 2013, Jalal provided a bond in the presence of army and intelligence officials, promising that he would return all the money deposited by the cooperative members by 13 July, 2013. But again he failed to return any money. Jalal finally went into hiding in September 2013. Dhaka Cantonment Board had taken several measures to pay back the investors money but failed, said ACC Deputy Director Jahangir.