Money laundering case: Lawyers for PK Halder’s 4 associates complete arguments

Lawyers for four associates of former managing director of NRB Global Bank Proshanta Kumar Halder, known as PK Halder, today completed their arguments in a case filed over laundering Tk 80 crore to Canada and amassing about Tk 426 crore illegally.

They are PK Halder's lawyer Sukumar Mridha, Sukumar's daughter Anindita Mridha, and Abantika Baral and Shankha Bepari.

PK Halder is the prime accused in the case. He was arrested in Ashoknagar, India, on May 14 last year on charges of money laundering.

During today's closing arguments before Judge Md Nazrul Islam of the Special Judge's Court-10, the defence lawyers told the court that the prosecution has failed to prove the charges brought against their clients. So, they appealed to the court to acquit their clients from the charges of the case.

Earlier, the prosecution completed their arguments and sought the highest punishment (13 years in jail), for PK Halder and 13 others in the case.

The judge then fixed September 5 for the prosecution, who will place their arguments on law points.

The court earlier recorded statements of 108 prosecution witnesses, including complainant of the case.

In the case, PK Halder and nine others were shown fugitives and trial was going on in their absence.

On September 8 last year, the same court framed charges against 14 people, including PK Halder, in the case.

The nine other absconding accused in the case are Halder's mother Lilabati Halder and brother Pritish Kumar Halder; and associates Purnima Rani Halder, Amitav Adhikari, Rajib Som, Subrata Das, Ananga Mohon Roy, Uttam Kumar Mistri and Swapan Kumar Mistri.

Among the arrestees, Sukumar, Shankha and Anindita made confessional statements earlier.

The Anti-Corruption Commission filed the case, on January 8, 2020, against PK Halder for allegedly acquiring illegal assets worth around Tk 275 crore.