ACC seizes 23 types of documents in stock market manipulation probe involving Shakib, 14 others

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has seized 23 types of documents of 15 people including cricketer Shakib Al Hasan in the investigation of a case filed on charges of manipulation of about Tk 256 crore in the stock market. These documents were recently collected from the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) as part of the investigation.

ACC Deputy Director Md. Akhtarul Islam said that the investigation of the case is underway on Monday (May 18). The necessary documents, including the BSEC investigation report, have been seized and letters have been sent to various departments to collect information related to the financial transactions, assets and investments of the accused.

On June 25 last year, the ACC filed a case against 15 people including Shakib on charges of embezzling more than Tk 256 crore through stock market manipulation. The case statement said that a huge amount of money was embezzled in an organized manner by luring ordinary investors and artificially increasing the price of shares. The complaint states that Shakib was involved in the activities of artificially increasing the prices by investing in shares of Paramount Insurance, Crystal Insurance and Sonali Papers through Abul Khair Hiru, who is discussed in the share manipulation. He has been directly accused of embezzling about 2 crore 95 lakh taka.

In addition to the stock market scam case, the ACC is also investigating allegations of money laundering and acquiring assets outside known income against Shakib. It is reported that information about his possible assets and financial transactions in the United States and Dubai is also being verified.

It is worth noting that Shakib joined the ACC's anti-corruption campaign as a goodwill ambassador and brand ambassador in 2018. However, the agency did not renew the contract with him after various controversies.