Bangladesh
Regent Corruption Regent Saheed gets three-year imprisonment in corruption case
Own Correspondent, Dhaka, 22 August 2023: The court has ordered three years of rigorous imprisonment for Chairman of Regent Hospital, Mohammad Saheed Karim, in the case filed by the ACC alleging illegal wealth acquisition. In addition to imprisonment, the court ordered a fine of one lakh taka. The court directed to deposit the penalty money in the government treasury within 60 working days from the date of pronouncement of the judgment.
Judge Pradeep Kumar Roy of Dhaka Special Judge Court-7 announced the verdict on Monday. Imprisonment and fine were ordered on conviction under Section 26 (2) of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act. On the other hand, the court acquitted him from the section 27 (1) of the ACC Act as the state could not prove the complaint. He was brought to court from prison before the verdict was announced. After that, the court ordered to send him to prison with a warrant of punishment.
According to the complaint, the ACC issued a notice to Saheed to submit the asset account within 21 working days on November 5, 2020. As he did not submit the asset account during this time, another 15 working days was given. However, the ACC started the investigation as the asset statement was not submitted even within the extended period. Investigation found allegations of illegal acquisition of 1 crore 69 lakh taka against him.
On March 1, 2021, a case was filed against Saheed at ACC's Dhaka District Office-1. Later, on April 17, 2022, the court ordered the formal trial against Saheed to be filed in the case. A total of ten witnesses in this case testified at different times.
On September 28, 2020, Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge KM Imrul Kayesh ordered life imprisonment against Regent Group and Regent Hospital Limited chairman Shaheed Karim alias Mohammad Shaheed in a case under the Arms Act. In a case under Section 19 (A) of the Arms Act, 1878, the charges against Saheed were proved. The court also sentenced him to seven years imprisonment under Section 19 (F) of the Arms Act. The court said that both sentences will run concurrently.
On July 6, 2020, RAB raided Uttara and Mirpur branches of Regent Hospital. Various irregularities including fake corona test reports, extortion of money from patients in the name of corona treatment came up during the operation. Shahed fled after this incident. On July 15, RAB arrested Saheed from the border area of Satkhira. Later he was brought to Dhaka from Satkhira by helicopter.
