Another fraudster busted: Fake army officer arrested

The police recovered an army captain’s rank name plate, a uniform belt, a cap, a service card, and SSG card

ISLAMABAD: The police have arrested a man for impersonating an army officer and recovered a uniform and forged identification documents from him.

The suspect, identified as Marwan Butt, was arrested in Sector F-7/4 on Friday. The police said they stopped a car which had an army monogram on its windscreen and bumper and the occupant introduced himself as an army officer. His demeanour, however, made the police suspicious and when they checked his documents, which identified him as a member of the Special Services Group (SSP), they were found to be fake.

During the search, the police also recovered an army captain’s rank name plate, a uniform belt, an army cap, an army captain service card, an SSG card, and the army flag from the car. The suspect also told the police that he was a resident of Defence Housing Authority, Lahore. He has been booked for impersonating a public servant and fraud.

Over the past few months, the police have registered several cases of fraudsters looting citizens while claiming to be security officials. In most cases, fake cops deprive people of valuables during body or bag search.

A police officer said that only the police officials in uniform can stop and search people. He said plain clothes officials can only search people when accompanied by on-duty Islamabad Police officials who are in uniform.

“If a citizen is stopped by a plain clothes official, they should immediately contact the police,” said the officer when asked for a comment on how to address such incidents.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 21^st, 2016.