A Chattogram Metropolitan Senior Special Judge’s Court issued an arrest warrant on Wednesday, August 12, against former United Commercial Bank chairman M A Sabur in a case over alleged embezzlement of Tk 25 crore and laundering money abroad through hundi. Judge Md Hasanul Islam issued the order after rejecting a time petition submitted through Sabur’s lawyer.

Anti-Corruption Commission public prosecutor Mokarram Hossain confirmed the order. The case has 36 accused, including former land minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Javed and his wife. According to the ACC charge sheet, a Tk 25 crore loan was approved in the name of a shell company linked to Aramit Group, then transferred to accounts of different companies.

The ACC alleged that the money was later withdrawn through employees and sent abroad through hundi. On May 17, a High Court bench directed Sabur to surrender before the Chattogram Senior Metropolitan Special Judge’s Court within eight weeks, but he did not appear on Wednesday. Investigator and ACC deputy director Mashiur Rahman submitted the charge sheet against 36 people on January 5, and testimony from 37 witnesses has been recorded since trial proceedings began.