Over Rs1m 'missing' from FIA evidence room

Agency registers case, starts inquiry; some documents also among missing items

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has started an inquiry after it discovered that Rs1.1 million had gone missing from the repository (storeroom) of its police station in Islamabad.

Sources said that officials discovered that the money along with some other documents had gone missing from the room a few days ago. Subsequently, they lodged a case against unidentified people and launched a probe. However, it was not immediately clear whether the amount had been stolen from the room or had been misappropriated by an official.



The FIA stores case properties such as cash, jewellery, documents and other items which have been confiscated during investigations in the evidence room.

An officer of the agency told The Express Tribune that a former in-charge (munshi) of the evidence room had gone on sick leave for a few days. But later his medical leave had been extended after his health worsened and he suffered from paralysis. During his absence, the evidence room remained closed for a few weeks.

Noting the need for a replacement, another official was tasked to look after and maintain the room a few days ago. While handing the keys over to the new in-charge, the officials took inventory of the evidence room while matching it against the register.

During the exercise, they discovered that Rs1.1 million were missing. Moreover, a few documents and files were also not at the place where the record indicated they should have been.



FIA Islamabad Director Mazharul Haq Kakakhel confirmed the development and said that a case had been lodged and an inquiry had been initiated as per the standard operating procedures of the agency. However, he said that so far nothing had been established in the inquiry.

Moreover, he added that they had yet to establish to which case the missing documents were associated with or what they contained.

He added that former in-charge of the evidence room was still quite ill and would be questioned about the missing amount and documents when his health improves.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 28^th, 2017.