How Abed Ali earned millions from question leaks: Tk2-5 lakh advance pay, Tk18 lakh after getting employment letter
At least six others are expected to testify in the case today
Abed Ali, PSC chairman's former chauffeur, has made a confessional statement to a Dhaka court that he had guaranteed employment for job seekers in exchange for Tk18 lakh.
According to a case statement filed by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), an organised gang leaked the question papers before the Railway Sub Assistant Engineer recruitment exam held under PSC on 5 July.
Abed Ali confessed to the court regarding his involvement in this recruitment.
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Seven of 17 people who were detained, over allegations of leaking question papers for public service recruitment examinations, have been taken to a Dhaka court to record confessional statements under section 164 of Code of Criminal Procedure.
Ten others of the lot have been sent to jail.
Judge Mohammad Nurul Huda Chowdhury of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Court recorded the confessional statements today, a CID official involved in the investigation told The Business Standard, wishing anonymity.
While recording the statement today, Abed Ali mentioned Priyanath Roy, 51, who was an auditor in the defence and finance department of Gazipur Cantonment.
Roy was arrested by the CID in this connection.
Abed Ali said for several years, the duo have been leaking question papers of various recruitment examinations of the Public Service Commission.
Priyanath Roy used to bring aspiring job seekers to Abed Ali, who would then get them in touch with other PSC officials.
The duo has so far scammed at least 450 people into getting jobs through leaked question papers.
When Priyanath Roy would first take a job seeker to Abed Ali, he would charge Tk2-5 lakh in advance.
They would then make a contract with the job seekers for Tk18-20 lakhs. Once the job aspirants would appear for the exam, then receive the employment letter or job confirmation, they would pay Abed Ali the amount.
Abed also admitted to the court that he and Priyanath were involved in leaking question papers of several non-cadre exams.
Questions and answers distributed in rented houses
Arrested Sajedul told the court that he sent the questions and answer sheets of the recruitment exam for Sub Assistant Engineer (Non-Cadre) to Abed Ali.
Sajedul further stated that he obtained the question papers for various exams from PSC Deputy Director Abu Zafar. The question papers for the Sub-Assistant Engineer recruitment exam were leaked in exchange for Tk2 crore through Abu Zafar.
Zafar provided the questions on the eve of the exam from senior officials' trunks, he said.
Through his associates Sakhawat and Saim, Sajedul recruited job candidates from different areas of Bangladesh and gathered them in rented houses or hotels in Dhaka and surrounding areas.
One or two days before the recruitment exam, the exact question papers were leaked, and the questions and answers were distributed to the candidates in exchange for money.
On 5 July, Niamul rented houses in the Khilgaon and Paltan areas for the Sub Assistant Engineer (Non-Cadre) recruitment exams for Bangladesh Railway and distributed the questions and answers in this manner, Sajedul told the court.
Sajedul also told the court that the question papers for the 45th BCS preliminary examination were leaked in the same manner.
Over the last 12 years, from drivers to PSC mid-level officials, former and current army personnel, businessmen, and university students were involved in at least 30 exam question leaks, including the BCS exams, he said.
At least three cadres of the 33rd BCS are currently serving their posts after passing examinations with leaked questions.
PSC dispatch writer Khalilur Rahman admitted in the court of leaking the questions to ten people who appeared in the 33rd BCS examinations.
On Monday, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) announced the detention of 17 people, including officials of the Bangladesh Public Service Commission (PSC), in connection with the question leak.
The PSC later suspended five officials who were among the arrestees.
According to separate orders by PSC seen by TBS today, the suspended are PSC deputy directors Abu Zafar and Jahangir Alam, assistant director Alamgir Kabir Noman Siddique and PSC despatch writer Khalilur Rahman and office assistant Sajedul Islam
