Regent Hospital scam: 160 complaints against Shahed in 5 days

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has received 160 complaints from victims over phone and by e-mail in the last five days against Regent Hospital owner Mohammad Shahed Karim.

Shahed embezzled around Tk12.5 crore from various individuals and organizations.

RAB Legal and Media Wing Director Lt Col Ashik Billah made the revelations at RAB headquarters on Thursday evening.

He said the elite force had received a total of 160 complaints. Of them, 21 were received via email and 139 came through the hotline number RAB opened after arresting Shahed.

In addition, the elite law enforcement agency also found a total of 48 regular cases against Shahed. The investigation officer will take cognizance of those cases if necessary, Billah added.

The hotline services have been suspended after remaining open for 5 days. But people can still complain through email. People in the country or abroad can file complaints or proffer advice via email, he further added.

Ashik Billah mentioned that RAB had filed three cases after conducting a drive at Regent hospital. One of them was a case of fraud filed against 17 persons, including Shahed, with Uttara police station. Eleven of them, including Shahed, have been arrested so far. Shahid is the managing director of the hospital.

The second case was filed under the Arms and Anti-Terrorism Act with Debhata police station in Satkhira after Shahed was arrested with arms in his possession. The third case was filed under the Special Powers Act after the recovery of counterfeit money, he said.

RAB is already investigating two cases – the fraud case with Uttara police station and the arms case with Debhata police station – after getting a nod from the Home Ministry. Shahed was now in RAB custody, he added.

The other case is being processed legally to be handed over to RAB, the RAB official said.

Replying to a query, he said the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) was investigating illegal wealth amassed by Shahed through fraudulent activities.

Shahed had taken cheating to the form of an art, Ashik Billah said.