The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has decided to file cases against 32 individuals, including the wife and daughter of former Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal and owners of 12 recruiting agencies, for embezzling and laundering Tk 1,128 crore through a syndicate that overcharged workers bound for Malaysia.

Confirming this development yesterday, ACC Director General (Prevention) Md Akhtar Hossain said the accused charged workers nearly five times the government-set rate of Tk 78,990, collecting exorbitant sums from 67,380 individuals.

The ACC approved the cases on Tuesday, with owners and top officials of 12 recruiting agencies being named as defendants.

The ACC claims the syndicate includes former MPs Nizam Uddin Hazari (Feni-2), Masud Uddin Chowdhury (Feni-3), and Benazir Ahmed (Dhaka-20), along with A H M Mustafa Kamal.

One such agency, M/s Orbital Enterprise, allegedly took an additional Tk 100.98 crore from 6,029 workers. The company is owned by Mustafa Kamal's wife, Kashmiri Kamal, who is also named in the case.

Another firm, M/s Orbital International, owned by Mustafa Kamal's daughter Nafisa Kamal, reportedly collected an extra Tk 50.16 crore from 2,995 workers.

Snigdha Overseas Limited allegedly charged an additional Tk 111.50 crore from 6,657 workers. The accused include owner Nizam Uddin Hazari, his wife Nurjahan Begum, Sheikh Abdullah, Jahangir Alam, M Amirul Islam, Jasim Uddin, and Md Ziaur Rahman Bhuiyan.

Binimoy International allegedly collected Tk 91.42 crore from 5,458 workers. The accused include former Upazila Chairman of Chauddagram, Cumilla, Abdus Sobhan Bhuiyan, and his wife Taslima Akter.

Five M International reportedly took Tk 119.32 crore from 7,124 workers. The company's owner, former Feni MP Masud Uddin Chowdhury, along with Noor Mohammad Abdul Mukit, Mehbooba Aftab Sathi, and Masud Uddin's daughter Tasnia Masud, are named in the case.

M/s Unique Eastern Private Limited allegedly embezzled Tk 63.44 crore from 3,788 workers. The accused include owner Md Nur Ali, his wife Selina Ali, daughter Nabila Ali, Nasir Uddin Ahmed, and former secretary Khondker Shawkot Hossain.

Catharsis International Limited reportedly took an extra Tk 130.43 crore from 7,787 workers. The accused are owner Mohammad Ruhul Amin and his wife Lutfor Nesha Shelly.

M/s Ahmed International allegedly collected Tk 143.91 crore from 8,592 workers. The company's owner, former MP Benazir Ahmed, is named in the case.

BM Travels Limited reportedly took an additional Tk 135.55 crore from 8,093 workers. The accused include former Dhaka North City Corporation councilor Md Shafiqul Islam and his wife Mousumi Akter.

BNS Overseas Limited allegedly collected Tk 70.60 crore from 4,215 workers. The company's owner, Jubo League leader Ishtiaq Ahmed Saikat and his wife Nasrun Nesha are accused in the case.

Rubel Bangladesh Limited allegedly took Tk 47.65 crore from 2,845 workers. The accused include company owner Muhammad Mojibul Haque Rubel and his wife Kamrun Nahar Hiramon.

Additionally, Ifty Overseas reportedly collected an extra Tk 63.59 crore from 3,797 workers. The accused include owners Md Rubel and Borhan Uddin Panna.

The ACC said that each Malaysia-bound worker was overcharged by Tk 1,67,500.