Blitz editor arrested in fraud case

Salah Uddin Shoaib Chowdhury

The editor of the English online tabloid Weekly Blitz, which recently caused a stir in Dominica, has been arrested on fraud charges in Bangladesh.

Media reports quoting Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Deputy Commissioner (Media Wing), Masudur Rahman, said  Salah Uddin Shoaib Chowdhury was detained from his house at Uttara in the Bangladeshi capital on Wednesday night.

He was remanded in custody during a court appearance on Thursday.

Deputy Police Commissioner Rahman, told the media in Bangladesh that Chowdhury was arrested in a case pressed by one Mohammad Shajahan, a few days ago, accusing him of embezzling millions of Bangladeshi dollars.

Media reports also indicate that Chowdhury had been arrested at the Shahjalal International Airport in 2003 with foreign passports and that he was charged with spying for the Israeli intelligence agency, Mossad.

In November 2011, the Blitz created a stir in Dominica when it published a series of articles accusing Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit and senior counsel, Tony Astaphan, of running a rogue regime that has turned Dominica into “the safe haven of criminals and the mafia.”

The articles named “Inside Dominica” alleged that prime minister Skerrit was involved in a number of activities from selling passports to those who do not deserve them, to having ties with Hamas and Hezbollah.

Most of the articles have since been taken down and the Blitz has adopted a different position towards the government in Dominica. In explaining this change, Chowdhury claimed he was “misled” by others on the matter and that the would be conducting his own investigation.

In February 2012, Dominica News Online became the target of the Blitz which claimed that the writers and editor were “crooks,” that the owner was “hiding in the United States” and DNO “was a part of the anti-establishment conspiracy against the Dominica government.”

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50 Comments

  1. Justice and Truth
    November 13, 2012

    Another Wikileaks? He deserved what he got. Amazing! He who accused others of fraud is now charged for fraud. That was the pot calling the kettle black. They pose as friendly people of integrity. They are spies, deceitful people, traitors in disguise. Beware of them.
    What right he had interfering in the affairs of Dominica and its government? How could he make such statements? He should have been charged for damaging their reputation.
    Time soon takes care of them. He may spend the rest of his days in prison. In time such people get a taste of their actions right on this earth. This is why we must be patient. It is always better to do good than bad. Far better.

  2. November 11, 2012

    The fact that in February 2012, the Blitz claimed that the writers and editor of DNO were “crooks” and that DNO was part of the anti-establishment conspiracy against the Dominica Government, is nothing further than truth. In fact it is the other way around because anytime commentators would try to post anything negative on the PM, know you comment will not be posted. I feel DNO is there to protect the Dominica Government. So Mr Blitz please get your facts right!

  3. Mamizoo
    November 11, 2012

    This clam chowder dude is undoubtedly a crook who prey on other crooks. He has a history of conning people , using different emails to communicate. One of his favorite moves is to reference other people and when you think you are communicating with one of his references you are actually talking to him via email. Two of his victims , Jewish women who he conned into an investment scheme.
    I have no doubt that he convinced a certain unethical …… to persuade his client to pay the bribe money. Clam chowder is indeed a rogue news editor but some of the things he said about the …… and his client are absolutely true. When Corrello comes out of hiding people will find out the deal on the diplomatic status he got. People will also know the extent the …… will go. What a rogue

  4. Wawa
    November 11, 2012

    I feel sorry for some of you people, it clearly shows that some Dominicans dont read and cant understand the issues at hand.I will continue to listen to q95 because i think there stories seems more credible.

  5. Distured
    November 10, 2012

    LOL. 9 different possibilities. 1 major problem…

    Why is this trash still alive? If he is it narrows the possibilities down to 7, with 3 against, 2 neutrals and 2 for, the PM.

    Personally, i hate politicians, politics, the “systems”, government and all that crap with a passion, befitting the level of diabs. It doesn’t work, never has and never will. Humans are prone to disbelief and greed.

    Figure the possibilities yourselves btw and quick, D/a is scheduled to burn.

  6. Another UWP Clown
    November 10, 2012

    DNO, can you please pass this article to Matt in the Morning. Can you do this is a “Truth to Power” member?

  7. marchand lawie
    November 10, 2012

    Dominicans are priceless eh? You mean in this day and age when we’re supposed to be informed labourites are still pretending that Thompson and lennox are the ones who should be ashamed? What is wrong with my people? Are we so colour coded and ignorant that we will try to cover the sky with our hands in defense of Skerrit’s mis-steps? Amazing.Skerrit on the advice of Tony warmed up to this who was slandering his name nd that of Dominica and people are still pretending it was the other way around? When he will say how much he got paid to remove the stories which many of us were smart enough to copy and the voice recordings many of you will be embarassed.

  8. Ok then
    November 10, 2012

    Admin it would be great if you would explain to your readers why he changed his position re the gov’t of Dominica. Thank you.

    ADMIN: The story clearly stated that he said he was misled by others. If there are other reasons, only he knows.

  9. Morihei Ueshiba
    November 10, 2012

    Jail dem all

  10. Macs
    November 10, 2012

    Another Crook with a Dominica passport

  11. fraud
    November 9, 2012

    How comes Skerritt and his cabal friends cannot file any lawsuit, up to now, against the editor of Weeklyblitz newspaper for libel or whatever?

    How comes that editor wrote about DA PM Skerrit and not Grenada PM?

    Too many times, first time in the history of Dominica, we’ve been bombarded with all kinds of stories. The truth and loads of evidence revealed are thorns in their side. Land deals, ownership of Villas in Savanne Paille, Rubbish Bin and Fertilizer Bobols, issuing of Dominica’s sacred diplomatic passports to foreigners. Etc. Etc. Etc. Money in exchange? Where is all that money?

    Many of them, friends of Skerritt, who were appointed DA’s ambassadors, and given diplomatic passports were secret. Dominicans were never told by their Govt. Why?

    Never forget the elder lawyer Emanuel had filed 42 charges of fraud against another Lawyer.

    What we do not know about all those secretive deals, links with all kinds of people with problems with the Law and corruption, much bigger than what we think. The secrets unravelled with evidence to prove are freightening enough. Time is the reveller.

  12. Met Yo
    November 9, 2012

    See how funny things does turn out? And those idiots doh even realise its us who should be laughing now.

    When the stories came out, we learn of some offer of bribe for them to taken down. A certain person left Dominica for about 3 weeks after which the articles were taken down and this guy suddenly started to praise the government.’

    Obviously, we realized that this guy is a fraud since he could allow himself to be bribed and could make such a 360 degree turn.

    Today, he is being arrested for fraud.

    So who should be laughing now?

    If they had left him to release all the information, he being arrested now would make all who presented and re-published his info look stupid.

    But they ran and paid the bribe, he change his tongue, bashing everybody even DNO. I doh know how DNO end up in his thing.

    Now i seeing labourats rejoicing like this is some victory….LOL

    • Another UWP Clown
      November 10, 2012

      You are clueless, according to Kobe Byrant…Stop It!!!

    • Lang Dough
      November 10, 2012

      @Met Yo

      When Chodery made his 360 turn and started to praise Skeritt, he was greeted as a hero by Astaphan and all the Labourcrew on the ANIMAL program on Kairi. They started to say how credible he was. So its really amazing to see labarites distance themselves from him.

      • Peeping Tom
        November 12, 2012

        I think, Lang Dough, you have it in the reverse. It was the mischief makers at a certain radio station and others who reside in the US who embraced Chowdry as a man with a bomb that would rock and tumble the Skerrit administration. When he, Chowdry, made his «360» turn, he was then dismissed as a crook by those who first embraced him. The DLP NEVER considered or called Chowdry «credible» neither was he ever embraced by any person/s speaking on behalf of the party.

        Stop the lies. They will not even get the UWPwee re-elected. So, do not waste your time.

    • look
      November 12, 2012

      Met Yo, u seems to know everything and it takes and idiot to know one. have some respect for ppl.You have the same attitude of disrespecting ppl on facebook. Its because of you idiotics ways that why ur brother dispise u and so too the bank.

  13. November 9, 2012

    Smoke never goes without fire. Why would a person say so many things about the nations PM and senior counsel and the PM did not push for an investigation or seek to arrest this man for causing harm to his good name? My question is, why did he take a different position towards the government and why were most of the articles taken down? Money talks you know! Didn’t they threaten to take legal action against Dr. Fountain?
    I am left with another question. When the man was arrested at Shahjalal International Airport in 2003, with foreign passports, I wonder how many of they said passports carried the name of Dominica. Boy we will get more light later.

    • Lol
      November 10, 2012

      What if the name just happens to be”not good ?”
      Lol!

  14. Doc.Love
    November 9, 2012

    For the sake of Skerrit,Tony and Dominica,I hope a Dominican passport was not found in his possession. Subject to correction,wasn’t Chowdhury the same gentlemen who was accused of seeking an alledged amount of big cash for retracting certain statements he made against the Skerrit labor government and the statements were subsequently removed to the surprise of the press in Dominica.

  15. Another UWP Clown
    November 9, 2012

    Will this story make the Hot Seat

    • Peeping Tom
      November 9, 2012

      :mrgreen:

    • woye
      November 10, 2012

      it certainly will

  16. Observer
    November 9, 2012

    Whither goest evilthat men do and plan for others. The “most credible source” of anti-Skerrit ala Q95, lennox Linton, Trevor johnson et al. There empire is crumbling around them. Eddie has gone into oblivion since his last attempt to put boots on the ground around parliament, Judith has called it a day, what is left of the DFP has ruled out any idea of future coalitions with the blues,and there waterloos just keep looming one day at a time. I Wish all of them well anyway.

    Dominica needs a credible and viable opposition party. One that has an alternative plan to Mr. Skerrit’s DLP and is prepared to discuss the plan in the publioc domain in advance of being elected. An opposition party that will attract credible candidates with high moral and ethical values etc etc. The present brand of high end moral comentators, unless they are prepared to place their heart in the ring and defend their positions where it matters will not work. “Go Dominicaliks”.

    • November 9, 2012

      Mr. Observer,could you ask Skerrit to hold a press conference inorder to clear out all those allegations,if you really believe the opposition is weak,why dont you ask Skerrit to have a debate with mr. Edison James.

      • Another UWP Clown
        November 11, 2012

        And what will this prove…for Edison to make outlandish statements and accusations

    • >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
      November 9, 2012

      Lennox Linton is a thorn in your flesh. A HUGE ONE.JUST DONT BURST A BLOOD VESSEL.He is the hero of so many of us!.Your understanding of what is happening is very shallow. Have you asked yourself why so many things were said about the AM PM man and he never sued? That’s a sensible question sensible people would ask. While all this was happening did anyone leave Dominica and dissapperr for days? Where did the person go to?That’s not a Linton issue, it speaks to the core of the sort of people we have governing us.

      • Observer
        November 12, 2012

        Has Mr. James sued every body who has called him corrupt. Start for example with Tony Astaphans and the many times Tony has called him corrupt. Either he 9Mr.james) is guilty and would prefer to save face by staying silent or perhaps he is not interested in suing everybody who say something bad (potentially slanmderous) about him. THE SAME ARGUMENT CAN BE HELD UP TO MR. SKERRIT. On many occasions you and other have attempted to take his name to the dogs over what are still allegation of corruption. He has not sued. By the way they sued those they knew they had a chance to win. Isn’t it so?. In the few instances where PM Skerrit took action to clear his name. What did people like you say? Oh, the PM is attempting to muzzled the media and peoples right to speak especially a poor man like Lennox and Fontaine. Remember those occasions? I am sure you do.

        By the way too. Is your propaganda war against Mr. Skerrit working after eight years. That is a question you all must ask yourselves as a party and as individuals.

        Let me answer as i understand it. It doe snot seem so. If you diasgree, then explain to me the repeated failures of of attempting to put “boots on the ground”. the most recent is outside parliament when the President of Dominica was appointed. Finally, you all chose to do what a disciplined society would do in such a situation. Go to the court for judicial redress. That is good. We await a decision.

    • Brian
      November 10, 2012

      To you observer just a matter of time, and we will see you will be crumbling down

      Just hope and pray that the foreign passport found is not belonging to the Commonwealth of Dominica

      I say to you, it is too early for you to be rejoicing, right now the card is in Salah Uddin Shoaib Chowdhury hands not yours, you need to hope and pray that he will not start to spiel the beans and start calling the names and all his buddies, until then you and your wishful thinking is rubbish, for there is always a tommorrow and we are waiting to see how this one will be unfolding

      You mention just two individuals, what about the hundreds of anti skerrit, if these are the only anti skerrit persons, this is nothing, you fool, when Salah will start to open his mouth and all the stories will be jumping out we will see who is anti skerrit or not, just a matter of time, i say just a matter of time

    • Michael
      November 10, 2012

      Lennox Linton has always disassociated himself with Chowdhury. Get your facts straight. Based on the articles Chowdhury had published (including associating Skerrit and the Astaphan family with Hezbollah), I quickly came to the conclusion that this guy lacks credibility.

  17. Tut-Tut
    November 9, 2012

    Everybody was lying and a phantom. Isn’t this the man Astaphans is on the record defending and even calling a “FRIEND” and singing his praises, because he was attacked for the BS stories he presented on Dominica and the PM. I thought he was credible according to Tony? Now people are trying to change the momentum to make it seem as if other Dominicans were behind this nonesense? Same thing with the other potanse from Italy and being vetted for Amabassadorial position!

  18. Representing
    November 9, 2012

    Crook is written all over Mister face. Just look at his cynical smile

    • ty
      November 10, 2012

      reminds you of someone eh? toute conchon ni samedi yo.. its just matter of time before all fraudsters are caught.

  19. Peeping !
    November 9, 2012

    It seems to suggests that this man could easily FALL FOR A BRIBE! He clearly lacks integrity and the moral authority to “pull anyone up”! It speaks volumes!!!!!!!!! i say NO MORE ON THE MATTER!!!!!!!

  20. Anonymous
    November 9, 2012

    What goes arong comes arong.

    • tsk
      November 9, 2012

      it’s ‘around’ sweetie, what goes around, comes around..:)

      • Poet
        November 11, 2012

        @tsk:

        Poetic license allows for “arong” but I think “What goes a-wrong comes a-wrong” even sounds better.

  21. Karst
    November 9, 2012

    Weekly Blitz changed it position after the disappearance of a certain crook leader.
    What about emails showing that the same guy made offers to a certain attorney in Dominica to remove the stories. In due time the truth shall be revealed.

  22. $$$blingbug
    November 9, 2012

    you got paid to shutup and speak good about those greedy un-honorable dominicans in high places

    • Joseph
      November 10, 2012

      Well now that he is caught, he need to forget whatever he was paid or whatever he received and start exposing his friends, followers etc, this one is very interesting

  23. Me
    November 9, 2012

    Yes thats the man who …………………………. colluded with to try to destroy the PM and the name of Dominica!

    All of you will meet your ends…you WICKED EVIL people!!

  24. Joe
    November 9, 2012

    Bravo, ….. hoye, where is …. nah, boss look they arrest your most credible source upon which you relied to publish all your rubbish about PM Skerrit!!!

    Boss it is sad when hatred can make you jump in hot water, now you alone will have to pay… need to tell us how many days now since Skerrit filed that lawsuit and uptil now nothing, you must be rejoicing on the slowness of the Court system eh!!! Well boss tell ….. doh push to speed it up, you not moomoo, tell him it working well for you and it worked well for him too, re- his case with KPB!!!!

    LMAO at this guy!!

    • Mwa gwe sa
      November 9, 2012

      What goes arong comes arong to you to, so continue to rejoice

    • Hath truth
      November 9, 2012

      It is interesting that you fanning the flame in Fontaine’ s direction when Tony and the Prime Minister also used Choudri as a credible source to undo the damaging revelations about the PM.
      Joe who revealed the Corrello affairs which your rogue government dare not talk about?
      Also joe since the rogue government and rogue lawyers aresonable to manipulate the court system why aren’t they pushing the case through the courts so that the PM can clean up his name in the passport mess. It is asinine t compare the defamation aw suit to the election fad law suite. It is also ignorant and foolish to compare the 42 charge delay tactics to the Thompson case. Remember Matt case what happened Tony elected to settle the matter out of court. Wonder why Matt can’t talk about it but he an continue to claim that the SKERRIT and hs regime is truly corrupt.
      You know well that Tony ad SKERRIT don’t want this passport selling case to go to the courts. By the time the case is ready I hope he and his lawyers won’t be in exile and fighting extradition.

    • November 9, 2012

      WHATS YOUR POINT?
      LENNOX LINTON was the first to call out this guy!!

      to my recollection, that was the only time i heard lennox taking skerrit’s side!!!!
      The man could not verify his claims so lennox dismissed him…simple
      that doesn’t mean skerrit is exonerated.
      It only means that the guy saw a rat in Skerrit’s cabinet and blackmailed him for it… successfully i might add

      • ^
        November 9, 2012

        @ ouch True say. Reasons why i love Lennox so verrrrrrrrrrrrrry much….

      • Boom
        November 11, 2012

        Wish I could give you a million thumbs up for that! I’m blown away that people are maliciously trying to make this a crown of gold for Skerrit and make Lennox, Thompson et al out to be the bad ones when the opposite is true. One day we will learn to tell the truth in that country

  25. Anonymous
    November 9, 2012

    WOW!Not surprising at all!

    • Grace
      November 9, 2012

      dito

  26. Hmm
    November 9, 2012

    hahahaha. That should teach …..and co. not to grab on to any and everything to try to dirty the Roosevelt Skerrit gov’t!

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