A Dhaka court on Sunday ordered the start of trial against Regent Group chairman Mohammad Shahed after framing charges in a case filed by Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) over acquiring illegal assets.
Judge Mohmmad Nazrul Islam of Dhaka Special Judge's Court-10, passed the order.
However, lawyer of Shahed filed an appeal seeking his acquittal from the charges. The court also fixed May 20 to hear the testimonies of the witnesses in this case.
The lawyers of accused Shahed sought bail in the case mentioning his long time imprisonment and illness. But the ACC lawyer said the appeal prayer should be rejected as Shahed is a habitual offender.
The court also did not approve of the appeal to bring Shahed separately in a special vehicle during the hearing pressed by his lawyers.
On March 1, 2021, ACC Deputy Director Farid Ahmed Patwary filed the case against Shahed for acquiring illegal assets worth Tk 1.69 crore.
On February 2, this year, ACC submitted a charge sheet in this case to the court.
On July 6, 2020, RAB raided the Uttara and Mirpur branches of Regent Hospital. During the operation, fake Covid test reports, and various irregularities including collection of money from patients in the name of Covid treatment were unveiled.
The next day, a case was filed against 17 people with Uttara West Police Station.
On July 15, Regent Group and Regent Hospital Chairman Shahed was arrested by RAB from the border area of Satkhira. Shahed has been in jail since then.
In 2020, the court sentenced him to life imprisonment in an arms case.
More than 36 cases have been filed against Shahed on allegations of different irregularities.
