Shawdesh desk:

A Dhaka court on Thursday framed charges against eight people, including JKG Healthcare Chairman Dr Sabrina Arif Chowdhury, in a case filed on charge of issuing fake coronavirus test reports.

Metropolitan Magistrate Sorafuzzaman Ansari framed charges in presence of the accused.

The court also fixed August 27 for starting trial in the case.

On August 5, Detective Branch (DB) of police submitted a charge sheet accusing eight people including Dr Sabrina in the case.

The other accused are: Sabrina’s husband and JKG’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr Ariful Chowdhury, Executive Officer Shafiqul Islam, graphic designer Humayun Kabir Himu and four other employees—Himu’s wife Tanzina Patwary, Jebunnesa Rima, Sayeed Chowdhury and Biplob Das.

According to the case, on June 23, Kamal Hossain, who was given a fake Covid-19 certificate from JKG Health Care, filed the case against Humayun Kabir Himu, his wife Tanzina and several unknown people with Tejgaon Police Station.

Police, later, arrested Himu and Tanzina, the same day and they confessed to their involvement in issuing fake Covid-19 certificates.

Based on their statements, police arrested seven others including Dr Sabrina and her husband Dr Ariful on different dates.

JKG Healthcare, run by Ariful and his wife Dr Sabrina, was realising money from the suspected patients for coronavirus test, whereas the company had inked a deal with the government to conduct the test free of cost.