The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Wednesday arrested Abontika Boral, a close aide of former Managing Director of NRB Global Bank and Reliance Finance Ltd Prashanta Kumar Halder, better known as PK Halder, in connection with a graft case.
A team of the national anti-graft body, led by its Deputy Director Md Salauddin, also the investigation officer (IO) the case, picked her up from the capital’s Dhanmondi area for her alleged involvement with PK Halder’s corruption.
The commission arrested Abontika after her involvement was found during its investigation into allegations of amassing illegal wealth and money laundering against PK Halder, said ACC Director (Media) Pranab Kumar Bhattacharya.
Meanwhile, Dhaka Senior Special Judge KM Emrul Kayesh placed Abontika Boral on a three-day remand for interrogation after IO Salauddin produced her before the court seeking remand.
Earlier, the ACC summoned Abontika to appear before the commission on December 28 last to give her statement but she did not turn up on that day.
On January 4, the anti-graft agency arrested PK Halder’s another aide Shankha Bepari following hours of quizzing at the ACC headquarters in the capital.
The ACC found a flat under the possession of Shankha Bepari in Dhanmondi area. But PK Halder bought it.
On January 5, the High Court slapped an international travel ban on 25 people, including Abontika, for their alleged connection with PK Halder.
PK Halder is facing charges of embezzling over Tk 10,000 crore, which he took out as loans from different financial institutions in the names of companies owned by him and his family members.He fled the country after allegedly embezzling the money.
International Criminal Police Organization, commonly known as Interpol, issued a red notice against PK Halder on Friday following a request from Bangladesh Police.
The move was initiated after the High Court on November 19 last asked the government and the ACC to explain in 10 days what steps were taken to bring back PK Halder from abroad.
The ACC on January 8 last year filed a case against PK Halder on charges of amassing about Tk 275 crore beyond known sources of income and money laundering.
