A high-level government delegation, headed by Law Minister, will visit Philippines by the end of November seeking to bring back $30 million more of the $81 million Bangladesh Bank’s stolen fund from the country.
“The delegation which will also comprise the central bank governor, will visit Manila on November 26 to accelerate the process of getting back the $30 stolen fund which remains frozen in Philippines,” Debaprosad Debnath, General Manager of Bangladesh Bank’s (BB) Financial Intelligence Unit, told The New Nation on Wednesday.
He added,” Their mission is to find out the ways of getting back the frozen fund within shortest possible time”.
During their visit to Manila, the delegation will meet high-ups of the Philippines government, Central Bank, Department of Justice and Anti-Money Laundering Council.
Bangladesh delegation is also expected to meet the Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to seek his cooperation in returning the fund and directive to track down the heist fund that is still traceless in the country, according to Debaprosad Debnath. The Philippine authorities so far traced over $40 million out of the $81 million BB’s stolen fund and the rest is still traceless.
Earlier, President Duterte gave the assurance that $81 million stolen by cyber criminals from the account of BB in New York Fed and funneled through bank accounts in Manila would be returned to Bangladesh.
Unknown cyber criminals tried to steal nearly $1 billion from the Bangladesh Bank account between Feb. 4 and Feb. 5, and succeeded in transferring $81 million to four private accounts at Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation RCBC in Manila.
The Philippines authorities recently handed over the $15.25 million recovered from the total heisted fund to Bangladesh authorities after a Manila Court adjudged that BB was the rightful owner of the fund.
The fund was surrendered by casino boss Kim Wong and his Eastern Hawaii Leisure Company.
“We are confident of recovering rest of the amount as we have already secured a positive commitment from the Philippines authorities,” said Debaprosad Debnath.
He said legal process is also on to get back the money.
The government earlier formed a high-powered taskforce to expedite recover of BB’s $81 million heist fund from the Philippines.
At the same time, it is also pursuing the issue evolving the diplomatic channels. John Gomes, Bangladesh’s Ambassador to the Philippines is mediating the process of retrieving the BB’s heist fund.
