JKG Health Care CEO among 5 arrested for giving 'fake COVID-19 reports'

Police have arrested five persons from Dhaka for allegedly delivering fake coronavirus test reports without carrying out any test.

They are Ariful Chowdhury, chief executive officer of JKG Health Care, Humayun Kabir and his wife Tanzina Patwari, Sayeed Chowdhury and Alman.

Humayun and Tanjina are former employees of JKG Health Care while Sayeed and Alman currently work there.

JKG Health Care is a sister concern of Oval Group.

According to Dhaka Metropolitan Police (Tejgaon), the accused delivered fake coronavirus certificates to at least 37 people.

A victim filed a complaint with the police against JKG Health Care for providing him fake COVID-19 test report, said Harun-or-Rashid, deputy commissioner of Tajgaon division police.

He said JKG employees collected samples from his house and within a day delivered the report that he was not infected with coronavirus, Harun said adding the victim later submitted his samples to another lab and found the report as positive.

After primary investigation, police detained Humayun and his wife. Later, as per their information, they arrested JKG CEO and others.

The employees took Tk 5,000-8,600 for each test, and the result was provided without any test, said police.

The Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) approved JKG Health Care of collecting samples for free.

JKG set up 44 booths in six places in Dhaka and Narayanganj. Some 300-350 samples were collected at the booths every day. It was approved on the condition that the samples had to be sent to the testing labs selected by the government.

“Though JKG launched activities for free, it struggled to provide the required fund. Later, they launched two more platforms—Booking BD and Healthcare. They began collecting samples from residence through these platforms taking money,” said assistant commissioner of Tejgaon division police, Md Mahmud.

Humayun and Tanzina admitted they dumped the collected samples and prepared report on IEDCCR pad and then emailed them, Mahmud added.

Police have seized five laptops, two desktop computers and 3,000 kits for further inquiry.