Staff Reporter :
The Detective Branch (DB) of police has officially filed charges against JKG Health Care Chairman Dr Sabrina Arif Chowdhury and seven others in a fraud case for issuing fake Covid-19 test certificates.
Finishing the investigation into the allegations, DB Inspector Md Liakat Ali, who is the investigation officer of the case, submitted the 12-page charge sheet under Sections 179, 269, 420, 406, 466, 471 and 34 of the Penal Code, to Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s (CMM) Court on Wednesday.
Sub-Inspector Md Farid Mia, general recording officer (GRO) at Dhaka CMM Court, confirmed the matter to Dhaka Tribune.
The other seven accused are – JKG Health Care CEO and Dr Sabrina’s husband Ariful Chowdhury, Abu Sayed Chowdhury, Humayun Kabir Himu and his wife Tanjina Patwary, Biplob Das, Shafiqul Islam Romeo and Jebunnessa.
All eight accused have been arrested and are in jail.
He said the investigation officer mentioned in the charge sheet that Dr Sabrina and her husband Arif had been the masterminds behind the scam, and the rest of the accused had been their accomplices.
“Thirty people have been named in the charge sheets as prosecution witnesses, including the complainant in the case” the GRO added.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Detective Branch had said they might submit the charge sheet against the accused on Wednesday.
On June 23, a case was filed with Tejgaon police station against six people, including JKG CEO Ariful Chowdhury, for providing fake Covid-19 test reports.
Police arrested Ariful and five other former and current employees of the organization on the same day. Dr Sabrina was arrested on July 12 after police were informed of her alleged involvement.
Dr Sabrina was suspended from the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases as the allegations of irregularities against her surfaced. She and her husband Ariful were remanded twice.
Among the accused, JKG CEO Ariful and former JKG officials Humayun Kabir and his wife Tanzina Patwari have confessed to their crimes, said DB Deputy Commissioner (Tejgaon division) Golam Mostofa.
