Papia amasses wealth worth Tk 110m

Papia NoorFile photo

Shamima Noor Papia, who was expelled from Narsingdi Jubo Mohila League as general secretary, has amassed wealth worth Tk 110 million, according to police and the Anti-Corruption Commission.

The two state-owned agencies said Papia accumulated the money through illegal means and criminal activities.

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The criminal investigation department (CID) and the ACC said Papia made money through cheating, illicit activities, extortion and threats.

Her husband Mafizur Rahman is also involved in this.

The ACC got information of her illegal wealth worth Tk 62.4 million. The agency submitted a charge sheet to the court against Papia and her husband.

On the other hand, in its investigation of a case filed under the money laundering act, CID found information of Tk 50.9 million earned through criminal activities.

Sources connected to the investigation said charge sheet in three cases including one filed on charges of earning money by illegal means and another under the Special Power Act, has been submitted.

The CID, however, could not complete the investigation of the case filed under the Money Laundering Act. Papia is now in Kashimpur jail.

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CID officials said the investigation of the case filed under the Money Laundering Act was halted due to the spread of coronavirus. The investigation has resumed, the officials added.

On 22 February 2020, four people including Shamima Noor Papia and her husband were trying to flee the country. At the time, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested them, taking them down from an aircraft waiting to take off at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka.

After her arrest, Papia was expelled from Narsingdi Jubo Mohila League as general secretary. A case under the special power act was filed with the airport police station against Papia and her husband. RAB also filed cases under the arms act and the special power act with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar police station against them.

Later CID filed another case under the money laundering act with Gulshan police station against Papia, her husband and their associates.

The ACC also filed a case on charges of amassing wealth from undisclosed sources.

CID officials involved in the investigation of the money laundering case said Papia earned Tk 50.9 million through criminal activities.

Before arrest, Papia stayed in Westin Hotel in Gulshan between 12 October 2019 and 22 February 2020. She paid Tk 32.3 million as the bill for the presidential suite allocated in her name.

Speaking to Prothom Alo, CID special police super Humayun Kabir, investigation officer in the case, said the investigation in the case under the money laundering act against Papia is in the final stages. The charge sheet will be issued soon.

In the case filed by RAB on charges of keeping illegal arms, the court sentenced Papia and her husband Mafizur Rahman to twenty years in jail.

RAB law and media wing director commander Khandker Al Moin said RAB submitted charge sheet in three cases filed under the arms act and the special power act. In October last year, the lower court convicted Papia and her husband.

*This report, originally published in Prothom Alo print and online edition, has been rewritten in English by Rabiul Islam.