Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has approved three separate cases against Aramit Cement PLC, owned by former land minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury, over allegations of embezzling Tk141.20 crore through forged bills and vouchers. Saifuzzaman, his wife Rukmila Zaman and a total of 29 people will be accused in the cases, the ACC said at a Tuesday press conference at its Segunbagicha headquarters in Dhaka.

The commission alleged that the funds were withdrawn through 27 transactions without any actual sale or purchase of goods, then transferred through different accounts and laundered to the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States and other countries. Investigators said the transactions were presented as purchases and sales of cement raw materials, while Aramit employee and Saifuzzaman’s personal assistant Abdul Aziz was shown as owner and supplier of Imperial Trading.

The three cases concern alleged transactions worth Tk57.60 crore, Tk41.62 crore and Tk42.07 crore between 2018 and 2021. The ACC said the cases will be filed under laws addressing misuse of banking systems, forgery and money laundering. It also cited earlier court orders to freeze or seize Saifuzzaman’s domestic and overseas assets.