RAB-1 is going to take over the investigation into a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) racket at Uttara in the city. As many as 37 foreigners and six Bangladeshis were arrested for their alleged involvement in the racket. “As per directives from RAB higher ups, we decided to unearth the mystery behind the illegal VoIP business in the country,” Commanding Officer of RAB-1 Lieutenant Colonel Kismat Hayat told The Independent on Friday.
“We have completed all the legal procedures for shifting the case from Uttara West police station and we will receive the case dockets and documents on Saturday,” he added. Uttara West Police Station officer-in-charge Ali Mahmud said, “We have received a letter from RAB on Thursday, requesting us to hand over the investigation. We are now waiting for confirmation on the transfer from police headquarters.” “As per the law, arrestees have to be handed over to the respective police station after filing of a case. But any other law enforcement agency can
take over the case and conduct investigations according to the decision of higher authorities,” Mahmud said.
A team of RAB-1 had raided a six-storey building at Uttara Sector-12 on the night of December 22 and arrested 43 people, including eight women, on the charge of illegally running a VoIP business in guise of garments business. The team had also seized a large number of VoIP equipment from their possession. Those arrested included 32 Taiwanese, five Chinese and six Bangladeshi nationals.
Following the incident, Nayak Subadar Abu Reza Mustafa Kamal of RAB-1 had filed two separate cases with Uttara West Police Station on December 23. One case was filed under the Bangladesh Telecommunication Act mentioning the name of 43 people, while the other case was filed against 14 foreigners for illegally staying in Bangladesh Sub-inspector Mamunur Rashid of Uttara West police station was assigned the investigation officer of both the cases.
On December 24, the SI had produced the 43 accused in the court of Dhaka metropolitan magistrate Rezaul Karim and sought a seven-day police remand in each case. The court, however, had remanded 42 accused to two days of police custody. Another accused, Mozammel Hosaain Rashed, was remanded to custody for one day. The SI told The Independent: “We are continuing our drive to nab the building’s owner, Latifunnesa Shamsuddin, and the manager, Faruque Hossain, who are absconding.”
-With The Independent input
