Report delayed in money laundering case against Moosa bin Shamsher

A Dhaka court has postponed the deadline for the report into the money laundering case filed against controversial businessman Moosa bin Shamsher.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court approved a request for more time from the case investigation officer at the Monday hearing when the report was due. The court set Oct 18 as the new date for the report.

The court had previously set Sept 11 as the date for the report after taking statements on Aug 1, said Police Prosecution Division Assistant Commissioner Mirash Uddin.

Moosa stands accused of dodging Tk 21.7 million in duties for a sports utility vehicle or SUV and giving 'vague statements' over his Tk 960 billion deposits in his Swiss accounts. The customs filed the case against Moosa with Gulshan police on Aug 28.

On Mar 21, customs detectives seized a Range Rover SUV from the Dhanmondi house of his son's in-laws.

Following the seizure, the businessman was summoned and grilled by officials at the Customs Intelligence office.

Customs officials had then said the car was registered with false import documents.

Khan, the head of Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate, said on Monday that the vehicle was registered to one Farukuzzaman from Pabna.

He said the car was registered with a fake bill of entry against Tk 1.7 million paid in duties, but the duty applied for this specific model of SUV is Tk 21.7 million.

In 1997, Moosa attracted huge media attention after offering the Labour Party and Tony Blair 5 million pounds as campaign donation during the UK’s general elections. File photo In 1997, Moosa attracted huge media attention after offering the Labour Party and Tony Blair 5 million pounds as campaign donation during the UK’s general elections. File photo During interrogations by customs detectives, Moosa said he has Tk 960 billion deposited in his Swiss accounts, according to Khan.

"He, however, did not provide any bank statement or document for source of the fund. He has not submitted the documents despite several reminders."

Moosa has often made headlines in the media for his wealth. One of his sons is married to the daughter of ruling Awami League's Presidium member Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim.

Often referred to as the ‘Prince of Bangladesh’ in the foreign media, Moosa began sending migrant workers abroad through DATCO Group he founded in 1974 but is better known in the foreign media for his alleged ties to the weapons trade.

In 1997, he attracted huge media attention after offering the Labour Party and Tony Blair five million pounds as campaign donation during the UK’s general elections.

There are allegations of war crimes against Moosa in his native Faridpur during the 1971 war, which he denies. File photo There are allegations of war crimes against Moosa in his native Faridpur during the 1971 war, which he denies. File photo The Anti-Corruption Commission or ACC decided to probe him after a newspaper reported he had Tk 510 billion in Swiss banks.

"No-one can make so much money in this country," he said last year after emerging from an ACC interrogation.

He also faces allegations of war crimes in Faridpur, his ancestral district, during the 1971 Liberation War, which the International Crimes Tribunal's Investigation Wing is looking into.

The business tycoon, however, denies the charges.

He had gone on record claiming he was at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s house until Mar 25, 1971.

 “I, then, went to Faridpur on his (Bangabandhu’s) orders. The Pakistan Army came there on Apr 21. They caught me the following day. I was freed on Dec 9,” he claimed.

His real name is Abu Daud Mohammad Moosa. His early roots go back to Kajikanda village of Nagarkanda Upazila in Faridpur district.

His father Shamsher Molla was an employee of the jute department before Bangladesh's independence and built home in Faridpur town where Moosa was raised.

Locals said Moosa, fluent in English and Urdu, developed close relations with the Pakistan Army during the war.