Hallmark scam: MD Tanvir, chairman Jasmine get life in prison
Sonali Bank's former managing director Humayun Kabir and eight others have received various prison terms
In a stern message against financial malpractice, a Dhaka court delivered a verdict on Tuesday (19 March), sentencing nine individuals, including the Managing Director of Hallmark Group Tanvir Mahmud, and his wife Jasmine Islam, who serves as the group's chairman, to life imprisonment.
The sentencing came in light of their involvement in a case related to the infamous Tk4,000 crore Sonali Bank loan scam on false documents.
Tanvir And Jasmine were also awarded a fine of Tk5 crore under Section 409 of the Penal Code. At the same time, seven years rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Tk25,000 have been given to them under Section 420.
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Dhaka Special Judge's Court 1 Judge Abul Kashem passed the verdict. After delivering the verdict, the judge observed that the highest penalty for such embezzlement should have been death sentence
Additionally, Sonali Bank's former managing director Humayun Kabir and eight others have received various prison terms.
In 2012, 11 cases were filed against Hallmark Group owners, officers and officials of Sonali Bank in connection with the embezzlement of about Tk4,000 crore from Sonali Bank. The verdict came in one of the cases. The 10 remaining cases are pending trial.
While making observations on the 284-page judgement, the judge said, "The case is a one of a kind incident in the history of banking. The court views that criminals who consider the deposits of the country's people, the banking system, and the economy as a joke, should be given the death penalty.
"But the maximum sentence in the relevant law is life imprisonment. So, in this situation, it has been decided to award life imprisonment to those directly involved with the crime."
Among those sentenced to life imprisonment are Tanvir's brother-in-law Hallmark Group general manager Tushar Ahmed, T and Brothers Director Taslim Hasan, Max Spinning Mills owner Mir Zakaria, Paragon Group Managing Director Saiful Islam Raja, Nakshi Knit managing directors Abdul Malek , Abdul Motin, and Taslim Hasan.
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Eight others who were handed different terms in the same case are - Saval Hemayetpur's Tantuljhora Union Parishad (UP) Chairman Md Jamal Uddin Sarkar, Sonali Bank Senior Executive Officer (Dhanmondi Branch) Meherunnesa Merry, Sonali Bank (head office) former general managers Nani Gopal Nath and Mir Mohidur Rahman, former managing director Humayun Kabir, Deputy Managing Director (DMD) Mainul Haque, Deputy General Manager (DGM) Safi Uddin, and AGM Md Kamrul Hossain Khan.
UP Chairman Jamal Uddin has been sentenced to five years in prison, while the others have received 10-year prison terms each.
Jamal Uddin and Altaf Hossain are out on bail. Saiful Islam, Abdul Matin, Humayun Kabir, Nani Gopal Nath, Taslim, Saiful Hasan, Meherunnesa, and Zakaria are still fugitives.
Meanwhile, Tanvir, Tushar, Jasmine, and the remaining eight accused are in custody.
Tanvir and Jasmine are accused of embezzling Tk16.5 crore after taking a loan of Tk525.62 crore in the name of a non-existent Max Spinning Mills.
They were accused of embezzling the money between 18 September 2011 and 30 April 2012 by opening fake LCs (Letters of Credit) in the name of 11 Hallmark Group companies to pay for imported goods.
On 4 October 2012, Nazmuchchadat, assistant director at the ACC Head Office, filed a case with Ramna Police Station for embezzling Tk135,44,9,484 from the Hotel Sheraton branch of Sonali Bank.
Later, Tushar was arrested on 8 October 2012 in this case.
Following the investigation, on 7 October 2013, the investigating officer filed a charge sheet against the 17 accused in 11 cases. These 11 cases were transferred to Special Judge's Court 1 in Dhaka for trial.
Later, on 17 February and 27 March 2016, the trial court framed charges against the accused.
