The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has started questioning the expelled Jubo League leader Ismail Hossain Chowdhury Samrat’s wife Sharmin Chowdhury and his brother Farid Ahmed Chowdhury over their alleged involvement in the casino kingpin’s illegal affairs.
ACC Deputy Director Jahangir Alam began questioning them on Thursday morning.
The commission learnt that the Samrat’s wife and brother were involved in helping him amass illegal wealth through the casino business, and some of that illicit wealth acquired through extortion is in the name of his brother Farid Ahmed.
ACC Deputy Director Jahangir Alam filed a case against Samrat on November 12 last year for allegedly amassing illegal assets worth over Tk2.94 crore.
Earlier on August 16, the court ordered the seizure of the real estate belonging to Samrat's wife Sharmin and his relatives.
On Tuesday, the national anti-graft watchdog interrogated Samrat in order to find out information about the wealth he had amassed illegally, which is still undisclosed.
A team led by ACC Deputy Director Jahangir Alam interrogated him at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) in Dhaka.
Samrat came under the spotlight after RAB busted his illegal casino businesses at different clubs in Dhaka.
On October 6, 2019, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested the former president of Dhaka South Jubo League, and his close aide Arman, former vice-president of the same unit. Samrat was expelled from the Jubo League following the incident.
On October 15, Samrat was remanded for 10 days in two cases filed under arms and narcotics acts.
According to an ACC report, the commission learnt that Samrat had accumulated illegal wealth abroad worth Tk1,000 crore.
On Thursday, ACC Secretary Muhammad Dilwar Bakht said they were investigating whether Samrat has more illegal wealth, and those who helped Samrat with the illegal activities would be brought to book as well.
