Court summons Toyota Bangladesh bosses in Navana’s fraud case

Dhaka’s Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Jashita Islam, has ordered the Managing Director of Toyota Bangladesh and three senior officials to appear in court over allegations of fraud and breach of trust.

Their court appearance is scheduled for March 5.

The accused are Premjit Singh, MD of Toyota Bangladesh and a Malaysian citizen; Akio Ogawa, Vice President of Toyota Tsusho Asia-Pacific and a Japanese national; and Asif Rahman, General Manager of Toyota Tsusho Corporation.

The case was filed by Shafiul Islam on July 9, 2025, on behalf of Navana Limited, the sole distributor of Toyota vehicles in Bangladesh. The complaint alleges that the accused systematically published false and biased reports against Navana, aiming to damage the company’s business interests, market reputation, and financial position.

According to the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) report submitted to the court on December 8, the officials intentionally delayed delivery of vehicles ordered by customers and withheld “manufacturer invoices” required for customs clearance. These actions disrupted Navana’s import and supply operations, exposing the company to potential financial losses, fines, and customs complications.

The investigation confirms that the accused acted with the intent to undermine Navana’s exclusive distributorship, misrepresenting market conditions and operational performance to harm the company’s credibility.

The court’s order comes after a thorough review of the PBI investigation, which found sufficient evidence supporting the allegations. Navana Limited and its stakeholders now await the March 5 hearing to address the claims against the Toyota executives.