Samrat was visibly seen emotional as he was being taken to a police van after long interrogation on Monday following his arrest the previous day. Sources said that there was touching moments during his interrogation when at one stage he expressed serious sympathy for the loss of his wealth and breaking down into tears.
Meanwhile, investigators have planned to go to Singapore for finding proper evidences of huge illegal wealth of expelled Dhaka City South Jubo League president Ismail Hossain Samrat, who is believed to be the casino kingpin. However, some unverified sources claimed that a team of intelligence has already reached Singapore in a bid to bring the cash money and other wealth of Samrat back.
Samrat himself reportedly disclosed that he has wealth of Tk five hundred crore in Singapore. Various credible sources, however, earlier hinted that he was actually detained many days ago. During these times, investigators have collected evidences about Samrat’s illegal wealth abroad. Bringing back the illegal money from Singapore was their first priority.
He previously laundered illegal money to Singapore, including those earned from illegal casino business and tender manipulations. He always gave cash money to his two wives living in Dhaka. Sources said Samrat has three casinos in Singapore and several bank accounts. Around Tk 400 crore have been deposited in the bank accounts.
The casinos are worth at least Tk 300 crore. He invested around Tk 25 crore in hotel business. He is also involved in money laundering network of the country. He is one of the main kingpins of illegal ‘hundi’ business. Samrat helped those who came to send illegal money to Singapore and Malaysia from Bangladesh as carrier.
Investigators hoped that if Samrat continues his cooperation, they will be able to bring back most of his illegal wealth. His bank accounts have also been frozen. But the investigators are yet to find any suspicious transactions in his local bank accounts. Meanwhile, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) filed two cases against Samrat and his accomplice Arman.
The cases against Samrat and Arman were filed with the Ramna police station on Monday. Samrat was sued under Narcotics and Arms Act and jailed for six months under Wildlife (Preservation) Act, while Arman was sued under the Narcotics Act only. RAB (legal and media wing) Assistant Director Mizanur Rahman confirmed the matter. After being accused of running illegal casinos, Samrat was issued with a travel ban and had gone into hiding, according to police.
