A Dhaka court on Friday remanded JKG Health Care Chairman Dr Sabrina Arif Chowdhury again for two-day in connection with a case filed over issuing fake Covid-19 test reports.
Judge of the Metropolitan Magistrate Court of Dhaka, Masud-Ur-Rahman, passed the order after hearing on a prayer placed by the Investigation Officer of the case and DB Inspector Md Liakot Ali.
The Investigation Officer produced her in the court and prayed for a five-day remand in the case for interrogation.
Earlier on July 13, another Dhaka court sent her on a three-day remand in connection with the case. After completing that remand, the police produced her in the court and prayed for sending her on a fresh remand for five days.
Advocate Obaidul Haque Bachchu took part in the hearing on behalf of Sabrina, while Assistant Public Prosecutor Hemayet Uddin Khan Hiron represented the state.
In the hearing, the defense lawyer Obaidul Haque opposed the remand prayer saying that Dr Sabrina’s name was not mentioned in the case documents. Other arrested accused implicated her name in the deposition to save themselves, added the lawyer.
On the other hand, Hemayet Uddin Khan Hiron said that Dr Sabrina needed to be remanded again to uncover more information about her role. After hearing the parties the court granted two-day remand for her cancelling her bail prayer.
Sabrina’s husband and CEO of JKG Health Care Ariful Haque Chowdhury is now on remand for the second time. They were interrogated together on Wednesday by Detective Branch of Police.
Police arrested Dr Sabrina on July 12 about three weeks after the scam came to light. Police summoned Dr Sabrina at Tejgaon Police Deputy Commissioner’s office around 1:00 pm for interrogation. After questioning for three hours, police showed her arrested in the case.
Dr Sabrina was working as a registrar doctor in the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases. Although she is working in a government organisation, she gave several interviews to media as the Chairman of JKG Health Care, according to police.
The health ministry suspended Sabrina for violating rules.
On June 24, police had arrested her husband Ariful Haque Chowdhury and four others for their alleged involvement in issuing fake Covid test reports.
Four cases have already been filed against JKG Health Care on various charges including fraudulence. But Sabrina was shown arrested in a case filed with Tejgaon Police Station in June. ❑
