Staff Reporter :
A Dhaka court on Monday rejected a bail petition of JKG Health Care Chairman and a government official Dr Sabrina Arif Chowdhury, and sent her to jail in connection with a case filed over issuing fake Covid-19 test reports.
Judge of the Metropolitan Magistrate Court of Dhaka, Md Atiqul Islam, passed the order after hearing on a bail petition filed by her lawyer.
Earlier on the day, Investigation Officer of the case and DB Inspector, Md Liakot Ali, produced her
before the court on completion of her five-day remand granted in two phases.
Meanwhile, another Dhaka court allowed the same IO to interrogate another accused Humayun Kabir Himu, a graphic designer of JKG Health Care, at jail gate for three working days in the same case against a seven-day remand prayer.
In the forwarding report, the IO said Dr Sabrina, as Chairman of JKG Health Care, was directly involved with issuing fake Covid-19 test reports. Moreover, she gave important information about issuing fake reports. So, the Investigation Officer appealed to the court to confine her in jail until his probe is completed.
On the other hand, defense lawyer submitted a petition seeking bail, claiming their client innocent.
After hearing both sides, the Magistrate turned down her bail petition and ordered to send her to Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj.
Earlier on July 13, a Dhaka court sent her on a three-day remand and on July 17, another Dhaka court sent her on a two-day remand in connection with the case. After completing that remand the police produced her in the court on Monday.
Advocate Abdus Salam took part in the hearing on behalf of Dr Sabrina, while Assistant Public Prosecutor Hemayet Uddin Khan Hiron appeared for the state.
Hemayet Uddin Khan Hiron said if Dr Sabrina gets bail then the investigation of the case might be interrupted. So she needs to be confined till the probe is completed.
Police arrested Dr Sabrina on July 12 about three weeks after the scam came to light. Police called Dr Sabrina at Tejgaon Police Deputy Commissioner’s office around 1:00 pm for interrogation. After questioning for three hours, police showed her arrested in the case.
Dr Sabrina was working as a Registrar Doctor in the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases. Although she is working in a government organization, she gave several interviews to media as the Chairman of JKG Health Care, according to police.
The Health Ministry suspended Sabrina from the post of registrar doctor at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases for violating rules.
On June 24, police had arrested her husband Ariful Haque Chowdhury and four others for their alleged involvement in issuing fake Covid test reports.
Four cases have already been filed against JKG Health Care on various charges including fraudulence. Sabrina was shown arrested in a case filed with Tejgaon Police Station in June.
