ISLAMABAD – FIA Director General Bashir Memon has informed the SupremeCourt that 15 more fake accounts had surfaced through which Rs 6 billionwere transacted in the money laundering scam.
Memon told the bench that out of the 15 accounts, one belonged to a graphicdesigner and one in the name of a woman. The FIA DG added Rs 800 millionwere reflected in the designer’s account while the woman’s accountreflected Rs 1.5 billion.
The DG also submitted FIA’s progress report before the bench, statingduring the course of investigation, the amounts deposited and withdrawn hadbeen scrutinized, which resulted in tracking of different individuals,mainly government contractors, including Pak Oasis (Pvt) Ltd and WaseemBuilders.
Pak Oasis, a government contractor for installation of RO plants acrossSindh, deposited Rs 98.32 million in fake accounts , the FIA stated, addingWaseem Builders had deposited Rs 1.6 million in fake or suspected accountsand was awarded contract in Liyari development package.
The report stated that during the investigation, 15 suspected fakeaccounts surfaced. Scrutiny of the bank record revealed huge cash amountshad been withdrawn from fake or suspected accounts by accused Arif Khan,Naeem and Hassan Brohi, it stated.
An account in the names of Zain Malik and Mushtaq Hazaro was opened atSummit Bank. “From February 2014 to January 2015, Rs 8.3 billion weretransferred in this account. An amount of Rs 4.71 billion was transferredin fake/suspected account, whereas Rs 3.76 billion were withdrawn underfake signatures of Tariq Sultan,” the report stated. Ashraf, Naeem andother individuals’ CNICs were also used for cash withdrawal fromfake/suspected accounts, the report stated.
“The amount transferred through cheques is Rs 7.2 billion from Zain Malik’saccount and from Bahria Town Rs 3.76 billion, making a total of Rs 10.96billion,” the report stated.
“Accused Lawai has provided cell numbers of different individuals like AliRiaz Malik, his wife’s account number at Dubai and messages for resolvingissues of accused Nasir Abdullah Lootah.
The report stated that numerous cheques whose calculations are underway hadbeen issued from new suspected fake accounts of Dream Trading and OceanEnterprises with code marks on the back of cheques. The report added thatthese cheques had been credited in five suspicious accounts of Hawala inPeshawar.
“The pattern of transactions of billions of rupees suggests these accountspertain to the persons who provide ‘Chamak’ (UAE Dirham) at Dubai,” thereport further stated.
The report also mentioned exchange of emails and WhatsApp messages betweenaccused Lawai and one Taha Raza. It revealed M/s Rubicon Builders andDevelopers Pvt Ltd were asked to transfer Rs 500 million to UmairAssociates, A-One International, Koyal International and Iqbal Metals.
During the course of hearing, DG FIA Memon opined before the bench that thementioned funds were generated from bribery. However, the counselsappearing on behalf of the accused persons strongly negated the opinion andsaid these views were being made part of media trial. Justice Bandial alsoexpressed displeasure and asked the DG FIA that how allegations of briberycould be levelled before the conclusion of investigation. He observed thecourt treated everyone equally.
Shahid Hamid, counsel for Omni Group’s Anwar Majeed, told the bench thatthe FIA’s JIT could establish bribery or corruption in its report, addingthe funds were legal and a regular audit was also being conducted.
The chief justice observed the new JIT could also be led by FIA’sAdditional DG Wajid Zia, adding the bench will hear objectors beforeforming any JIT.