Fake Covid-19 certificates: Trial starts against Sabrina, Arif

JKG Health Care's chairman Dr Sabrina Chowdhury and its chief executive officer Ariful Haque Chowdhury have been charged in a case filed for allegedly issuing fake Covid-19 certificates.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Sarafuzzaman Ansari on Thursday framed the charges. 

Earlier on August 5, Liakat Ali, inspector of the police's detective branch, submitted the charge sheet before Dhaka Metropolitan Court against eight people, including Sabrina and Arif.

Earlier on June 15, one Kamal Hossain lodged the lawsuit with Tejgaon Police Station alleging coronavirus report forgery against JKG Health Care.

Other accused in the case are: Abu Said Chowdhury, Humayun Kabir Himu, Tanzila Patwari, Biplob Das, Shafiqul Islam Romio and Jebunnesa.

JKG Health Care, a non-profit organization, took government approval to collect sample for coronavirus tests at free of costs but it allegedly took fee up to Tk 5000 per sample test. 

Besides, it issued fake COVID-19 certificates without conducting test.

Police learned that JKG Health Care issued 27,000 COVID-19 reports. Out of those, the facility made tested 11,540 samples through ICDCR, and prepared reports of rest 15,460 samples. 

Sabrina was a doctor at National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases. Though she claimed she is COVID-19 affairs consultant of JKG, not chairman but police enquiry suggested she is the chairman of the establishment.