Rashedul Haque, a close associate of PK Hader, today confessed to a Dhaka court that he disbursed crores of taka, including Tk 70.82 crore, as loan to the non-existing "Anan Chemical Ltd" as per Halder's directive.

Metropolitan Magistrate Md Baki Billah recorded confessional statement of Rashedul Haque, former managing director of International Leasing and Financial Services Limited (ILFSL), after Anti-Corruption Commission Deputy Director Gulshan Anwar Pradhan, also investigation officer of the case, brought him at his chamber.

After recording the statement, the magistrate ordered to send him to Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj, an official of the ACC confirmed to The Daily Star.

In his statement, Rashedul told the magistrate that submission of application for loan in the name of Anan Chemical Ltd and sanction of loan were done as per PK Halder's directive even though the company was non-existent.

"I had disbursed crores of taka as loan to a number of non-existing companies and a number of high-profile persons including chairman and managing director of Mercantile Bank Ltd and Bank Asia Ltd as per PK Halder's instruction," he said.

A high official of Bangladesh Bank had assisted them, Rashedul said in his statement.

ACC official Gulshan interrogated Rashed and Uzzal Kumar Nandi, former chairman of People's Leasing and Financial Services Limited at the ACC office on January 25 and then they were kept at Ramna Police Station -- out of fear that they might leave the country -- for their alleged involvement in the scam.

Earlier that day, the ACC filed a case against 24 people, including the two, with its Integrated District Office-1 of Dhaka.

PK Halder is the prime accused in the case.

According to the prosecution, it was alleged that Uzzal, one of the directors of the non-existent company "Anan Chemical Ltd" and Rashedul in collusion with PK Halder and others took Tk 70.82 crore as loan and laundered the money.