While all bank accounts and immovable assets of the the alleged group of companies, business establishments, and organization owners were frozen and seized during the investigation into the corruption allegations, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has kept more than a hundred of accounts of the Orion Group active, seizing only 31 personal accounts of the group's owner, Obaidul Karim, and his family members.
Meanwhile, although 43 acres of land in the names of Obaidul Karim and his family members were seized (attached), no immovable assets of their business were seized, and even the ACC has not filed any petition in court to freeze or attach the bank accounts and immovable assets of them.
In this regard, ACC Deputy Director Akhtarul Islam told Khaborer Kagoj that the investigating officer took the decision to seize and freeze the financial assets of those involved in the allegations, and the court usually issued the freezing and seizure order based on the investigation officer's application.
Speaking to the relevant ACC official in this regard, it was learned that a joint discussion between the ACC and senior officials of Bangladesh Bank regarding the freezing of all accounts of Orion Group, they only suggested freezing the personal accounts of the group's owners and attaching immovable assets in their personal names.
Because, if the accounts of a business organization are closed and the immovable assets of the organization are attached, it may create obstacles in the livelihood of many people, including the officials and employees working in the related organization.
Therefore, an application was made to the court to seize only the personal accounts of the owners of Orion Group and their land, and according to the application, the court has ordered the freezing and seizure of the personal assets of the owners of Orion Group.
ACC sources said that on March 10, following an application by ACC Deputy Director Rashedul Islam, the Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge's Court ordered the freezing of 31 personal bank accounts of Orion Group owner Obaidul Karim and his wife Arjuda Karim, son Salman Obaidul Karim, and daughter Zerin Karim. The accounts had a total balance of Tk 202,680,658 and $ 6,575 dollars, which have been placed under freez.
Meanwhile, the same court ordered the attachment of a flat of about 4,000 square feet in the capital's Gulshan in the name of Zerin Karim, and 43.65 acres of land in the names of Obaidul Karim, Arjuda Karim and Salman Obaidul Karim in Mymensingh and Munshiganj districts.
Beyond all these assets, the ACC has not taken the initiative to freeze and seize a large amount of financial assets, including cars, houses, and businesses owned by Obaidul Karim's family members.
Meanwhile, under trial on corruption charges and banned from traveling abroad, Obaidul Karim fled the country on July 31 using a Dominican passport (visa-free or visa-on-arrival access).
It is known that Obaidul Karim was second on the list of top corrupt people during the caretaker government in 2007. At that time, he was in hiding to avoid arrest in a raid by the anti-corruption task force formed by the joint forces.
A total of 14 corruption cases were filed against Obaidul Karim. Of these, 11 were for embezzlement of Tk 488.5 crore from Oriental Bank. He was sentenced to at least 48 years in prison in the other three cases. He was granted bail in these cases. The High Court had stayed some of the cases, but the Appellate Division stayed that order; hence, the cases are still pending.
In 1993, Obaidul Karim made his debut as a businessman by leasing Kohinur Chemical Limited, a state-owned ailing company, through various tricks. Then, in 2003, he embezzled Tk 6 billion from the United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based Belhasa Engineering and Construction Company through fraud and deceit, forming a joint company.
Later, Obaidul Karim took control of the jointly owned company and was included in the Bangladesh Bank's list of defaulters with a loan of Tk 166 crore in the company's name. Since then, he has become a master of fraud and deceit.
After the government was toppled by a student uprising last year, ACC officials began investigating corruption at the Orion Group.
After the government was toppled in a student uprising last year, ACC officials launched a corruption investigation against the Orion Group. Several investigations are underway against Obaidul Karim and his family members on various charges, including illegal wealth acquisition and money laundering.
*This report, originally published in the Khaborer Kagoj print and online edition, has been rewritten in English by Md Sahadad Hossain*
