Jubok Housing chief held for fraud

Police yesterday arrested Jubok Housing Society Chairman M Lokman Hossain on charges of fraud, in a pre-dawn sweep at a house at Dhanmondi in the city.
Meanwhile, police took Lokman on seven days’ remand in connection with two fraud cases filed against him with Dhanmondi police station.
Talking to this correspondent SI Atikur Rahman of Dhanmondi police station said that they arrested Lokman Hossain from a house under the police station at around 4am, following filing of two fraud cases against him (Lokman) with the police station. Police took him to Dhanmondi police station after the arrest.
Officer-in-Charge (OC) of the Dhanmondi police station Shah Alam told the reporters at the police station that Lokman Hossain was wanted in a number of cases filed with different police stations across the country. According to the allegation made by the clients of the Jubok, Lokman used to take money from them giving promise to provide them with huge profit, but he did not give them anything in return, he said.
 One Ashraf Hossain filed a cheating case against Lokman and six others in March. In the case statements he alleged that he had deposited Tk 30 lakh to the Jubok Housing Society for a plot, but, the Jubok authority failed to give it in time.
He also alleged that the Jubok men beat him mercilessly as he demanded his money back and forced him to put signature on a blank stamp paper.
Dr Abul Kashem filed another case against Lokman on charge of embezzlement of Tk 19 lakh with the Dhanmondi police station.  
After spreading the news of Lokman’s arrest, many victims rushed to the Dhanmondi police station and expressed their anger to the reporters.
Roksana Begum, a resident of Tejkunipara in the city said that she had invested over Tk 10 lakh in the Jubok Housing Society for a plot. But, the society did not give him any plot or return the money till the date.
Mustafizur Rahman, convenor of the forum of the deceived people by the Jubok said that they tried to get their money back for the last three and a half years but all efforts went in vain.
All of the victims sought the government’s, especially Prime Minister’s intervention to resolve the matter.
Talking to the reporters at the police station Jubok Housing Society chairman said that they had no intention to cheat the clients of the housing society. “We have paid money to the client every month and sent the statement to the Bangladesh Bank,” he adding that It will take more time to pay back the money as the housing society has suffered a lot due to dull business. 
“The clients of the Jubok Housing Society had filed cases against us and they have every right to do so, as payments are being delayed,” he said.
Seeking chance he said, “We can realise your (clients) pain. Please, give us a chance, we would return your money within three years.
Police sources said there were over 50 cases against Lokman with different police stations on charges of fraud. Jubok allegedly misappropriated several hundred crores of taka of 26,000 people, the sources added.
Meanwhile, police produced Lokman before the court of Metropolitan Magistrate Faisal Atiq Bin Quader with a prayer for seven days remand for each of the two fraud cases filed against him with Dhanmondi police station.
The court granted a five-day remand for Lokman in a case of embezzlement of Tk 30 lakh filed by Ashraf Hossain and two days in connection with another case filed against him on charge of misusing Tk 19 lakh filed by Dr Abu Kashem.

Courtesy of The Independent