Businessman Mithu held in health sector graft:ACC

News Desk :

Motazzarul Islam Mithu, known as a central figure in health sector corruption during the Awami League government, has been taken to court following his arrest.

Detectives from the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DB) detained him late Wednesday night from the capital’s Gulshan area.

After his arrest, Mithu was brought to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for interrogation on Thursday before being produced before court, reports UNB.

Confirming the matter, ACC Director General Md Akter Hossain said, “Mithu, arrested on charges of amassing wealth beyond known sources of income, has been taken to court. The investigating officer may seek remand if necessary.”

According to the ACC investigation report, Mithu, owner of two firms – Lexicon Merchandise and Technocrat – illegally accumulated vast sums of wealth.

His immovable assets (purchase of farmland, land leases, plots, flats, and house construction) stood at Tk 18.40 crore while movable assets (shares and investments in different companies, cars, bank deposits, gold ornaments, furniture, and electronic goods) is found Tk 57.44 crore.

Together, Mithu’s total wealth amounts to Tk 75.85 crore. Additionally, his family expenditures were estimated at Tk 71.45 crore bringing his total wealth and expenses to Tk 147.30 crore.

In contrast, investigators traced legitimate sources for only Tk 71.49 crorev. This indicates that Mithu amassed Tk 75.80 crore in illegal assets . Consequently, a case has been filed against him under Section 27(1) of the ACC Act, 2004.

Mithu’s name surfaced in the 2016 Panama Papers leaks. Allegations suggest that through his contracting firms, he abused his influence in supplying goods and executing development projects, siphoning off vast sums of public money.