Noor Ali, 13 others named in money laundering case

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) have filed a money laundering case against Unique Eastern Private Limited owner Noor Ali and 13 others for organised extortion of over Tk 400 million.

A press statement issued on Monday said that initial evidence of fraud amounting to Tk 407.1 million has been found against 14 people, including Noor Ali, who it claims is part of a syndicate that controls sending workers to Malaysia.

A case was filed with the Gulshan Police Station last Sunday, the statement said. It also said that during the investigation, authorities found that Noor Ali and others in his organisation extorted additional fees from each worker they processed, on top of the government-determined fee.

"During the investigation, it was found that the accused sent a total of 3,787 workers to Malaysia in the two years from 2022 to 2024. Although the government fee was fixed at Tk 78,990, Noor Ali and other accused collected Tk 150,000 per person."

The additional expenses were collected in the name of passport costs, COVID-19 tests, medical fees, and clothing-related fees from each victim, the statement said.

"Initial information shows that 14 members of the organised gang conspired to defraud victims and extort a total of Tk 407,140,370, which is clearly a money laundering offence under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2012."

The Financial Crimes Division of CID is currently investigating the case.

Noor Ali is also the managing director of Unique Hotel and Resort, which operates The Westin Dhaka.