Health sector contractor Mithu placed on 5-day remand

A Dhaka court on Thursday placed controversial health sector contractor Motazzerul Islam Mithu on a five-day remand in a case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) over amassing illegal wealth worth Tk 75.8 crore.

Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md Sabbir Foyez passed the order following a 10-day remand plea by the ACC, while the defence sought bail and cancellation of remand. The court, later, rejected bail and granted five days’ of remand.

Mithu, owner of Lexicon Merchandise and Technocrat, was arrested in Gulshan on September 10 by Detective Branch police. According to the ACC investigation, he acquired Tk 18.4 crore in immovable assets, including land and houses, and Tk 57.4 crore in movable assets, such as shares, investments, cars, gold and bank deposits-disproportionate to his known income.

Mithu’s name also appeared in the 2016 Panama Papers leak. He has long faced allegations of misappropriating large sums through government supply and development contracts.