Man caught with Tk 6mn at Chittagong court charged with money laundering

Police have pressed money laundering charges against the man over the recent seizure of Tk 5.8 million during search for bombs at the Chittagong court premises.

Kotwali police Sub-Inspector Md Kamruzzaman filed a case on Sunday night accusing Md Ilias Bhuiyan, 30, arrested with the money on Oct 14.

He said the Anti Corruption Commission will investigate the case further as money laundering offences fall under its purview.

During a search operation in front of the new annex building of the court, police found the money in the bag of Bhuiyan.

Security on the court premises had been beefed up on that day following a bomb threat.

Police arrested him as they had found inconsistency in his statements. A court later ordered him into jail.

According to case details, Bhuiyan had told police that he was taking the money to Shahidul Islam Murad, a surveyor in the land acquisition section at the Deputy Commissioner's office, for getting some favour in a land deal.

At one time, he claimed the money belonged to him and then retracted his statement saying he was a mere carrier of the money.

On the day of the incident, 16 calls were made to several numbers from Bhuiyan’s mobile. Eleven calls were made to the number registered under Murad’s name. Calls were also made to Bhuiyan from another number, the FIR mentioned.

A police official involved in the investigation of the case said Bhuiyan had no business or property in Chittagong. He is a native of Akhaurha Upazila of Brahmanbaria district.

He used to stay at a rented accommodation at Nazirpul area of Pathantuli in Chittagong.

Police had seized Bhuiyan’s mobile phone, two SIM cards, wallet and National Identity Card.

The district administration transferred 12 officials of the land acquisition section, including Murad, after the seizure.