A Dhaka court today indicted 19 people including Hallmark Chairman Jasmine Islam and Managing Director Tanvir Mahmud in two out of 11 cases filed for swindling over Tk 437 crore out of Sonali Bank.
Judge Md Kamrul Hossain Mollah of Senior Special Judge’s Court framed the charges for the first time after rejecting discharge petitions filed by seven of the accused including Tanvir and Jasmine.
Tanvir and Jasmine along with five others pleaded not guilty and demanded justice after the charges were read out to them.
Of the accused, two accused, including Jasmine, are now on bail while six others, including Tanvir, are in jail.
Fifteen others have been absconding.
Earlier on October 4 in 2012, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed 11 cases with Ramna Police Station against 27 top officials of Sonali Bank and Hallmark Group on charges of misappropriating over Tk 1,568 crore.
On October 7, 2013, ACC submitted charge sheets against Jasmine, Tanvir and 23 others in 11 corruption cases.
The names of two Sonali Bank officials were dropped from the cases as they died after their arrest.
