Charge pressed against Dr Sabrina, 7 JKG officials over Covid test scam
Dr Sabrina and Arif were the main culprits behind the scam and the rest were their cohorts
The Detective Branch of police on Wednesday pressed charges against JKG Health Care Chairperson Dr Sabrina Arif Chowdhury, her husband Ariful Islam Chowdhury and six others in a case filed over the issuance of fake Covid-19 test certificates.
DB Inspector Likat Ali, who is the investigation officer of the case, mentioned in the charge sheet that Dr Sabrina and JKG Chief Executive Officer Arif were the main culprits behind the scam, and the rest were their cohorts.
Liakat submitted the charge sheet before a Dhaka court, said Farid Hossain general recording officer at Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court.
The detectives had earlier found involvement of eight JKG Health Care officials, including cardiac surgeon Sabrina and her husband Arif, in the forgery.
The other accused are JKG's Executive Officer Shafiqul Islam, graphic designer Humayun Kabir Himu and four other employees – Himu's wife Tanzina Patwary, Jebunnesa Rima, Sayeed Chowdhury and Biplob Das.
The name of Mamunur Rashid has been dropped from the charge sheet as his involvement with the incident was not proved.
All the eight accused are in jail now.
Of them, Shafiqul, Humayun and Tanzina gave confessional statements before magistrates on different dates, narrating their involvement in issuing fake Covid-19 certificates.
Mahbubur Rahman, joint commissioner at DB, told The Business Standard, "We have submitted a charge sheet over the JKG's Covid-19 test certificate scam. We have made another report regarding the involvement of health ministry and health directorate officials. The report will be submitted to the authorities as soon as possible."
In the charge sheet, the investigation officer said the charges brought against them of issuing fake Covid-19 certificates were primarily proven and they should be brought under trial for their alleged involvement with the incident.
On June 23, Kamal Hossain, who was given a fake Covid-19 certificate from JKG Health Care, filed the case against Humayun, his wife Tanzina and several unknown people with Tejgaon Police Station in this regard.
Police later arrested the couple the same day and they confessed to their involvement in issuing fake Covid-19 certificates.
Following their confessional statements, police arrested seven others, including Dr Sabrina and her husband, on different dates.
Another accused, Shafiqul Islam, gave a confessional statement before a Dhaka magistrate.
During the investigation, the detectives have found that some officials at the health ministry and the Directorate General of Health Services helped JKG Health Care secure the contract for the Covid-19 sample collection.
According to DB officials, JKG used to send fabricated Covid-19 certificates to people through a fake mail. It issued 1,985 fake Covid-19 certificates without even collecting samples. Besides, they have got information about another 34 fake certificates
