Four non-resident Bangladeshis, including a BNP leader, are facing trial in the United States on charges of evading tax by withholding their earnings from businesses.
The accused are BNP Washington DC unit Vice-president Obaidul Haq Ovi, 49, Mohammad Ali, 54, of Herndon, and Mohammad Rahman, 43, and Mohammad Siddique, 53, of Alexandria in Virginia.
In a statement Virginia Attorney Dana Boente said they had been indicted for hiding information on their income earned from Subway restaurants and gas re-fuelling stations from 2008 to 2013.
According to him, Ovi evaded $3.5 million, Ali $1.5 million, Rahman $550,000 and Siddique $570,000 in income tax.
He also added that the four had confessed to tax evasion in their statements to court.
Meanwhile Ali, Rahman and Siddique had told the court that they withheld income information ‘at the advice’ of Ovi.
Ovi, a dweller of Virginia from 1987, owns a gas refuelling station, Skyhill Shell, and 12 Subway restaurants.
Virginia Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney Genera Caroline D Ciraolo said judgment in the cases involving the three others may be pronounced on Jul 15
The accused have to pay the tax dodged and may face up to three years’ jail term and fine up to $250,000 each.
Source: Ittefaq