Money laundering case: FIA told to approach SC for interrogation of Anwar Majeed in jail

Banking court says JIT is accountable to SC

KARACHI: A banking court, on Friday, told the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to approach the Supreme Court (SC) regarding its request to interrogate Omni Group Chairperson Anwar Majeed and others in jail. Announcing its verdict on the FIA's plea, the court said that the joint-investigation team (JIT) is supposed to report to the SC about its investigations pertaining to the money laundering scandal involving billions of rupees. The banking court said that it could not pass on any order against the SC's decision, adding that it would inform the apex court and the final decision on the plea will be taken by the SC.

The banking court had been requested to allow the JIT to interrogate the four accused, Anwar Majeed, Abdul Ghani Majeed, Hussain Lawai and Talha Raza, individually in Landhi jail. The suspects were in jail custody since before the formation of the JIT and permission was sought by FIA to record statements and interrogate the suspects individually in jail.

The counsel for the accused argued that permission for further interrogation cannot be given after jail custody. "What further investigation is needed after the completion of the inquiry?" the suspects' counsel had argued, adding that as per the interim challan, investigation against the suspects has been completed so the FIA should not be granted permission for further inquiry. The suspects' counsel requested the court to reject the plea. The court, in its observation, asked how the investigation could be deemed completed when only the interim challan had been submitted. The final challan still needs to be presented, the court said.

Banking fraud

Meanwhile, authorities have submitted the final challan in a case involving the theft of Rs2 million from the bank account of a citizen through a fake phone call. The banking court issued non-bailable arrest warrants against suspects Muhammad Yunus, Muhammad Aslam, Muhammad Nadeem and Bushra Zahoor.

The FIA submitted the supplementary challan against the suspects. As per the challan, the information pertaining to mobile bank accounts was obtained through a private bank. The suspects used 25 different mobile accounts to draw sums in the range of Rs30,000 to Rs49,900. After the information, all mobile bank accounts have been frozen. The FIA in its supplementary challan said that raids are being conducted to arrest the suspects. Suspect Imran is in jail while Muhammad Iqbal is on bail. Another suspect, Muhammad Yunus, withdrew Rs1m, while Muhammad Iqbal withdrew Rs500,000. Bushra Zahoor is a resident of Jhang while Muhammad Nadeem hails from Bahawalnagar.

Plaintiff Binte Khan claimed that she received a call from an unknown number on September 29. The callers told her that they represent an intelligence agency and asked for details of her bank accounts. The suspects also threatened to destroy her homes in Waziristan if the information was not given. "I gave all bank information to the fraudster and next day, I learnt that Rs2m were missing from my bank accounts," said the plaintiff. As per initial findings of the FIA, the incidence of bank fraud has spread from Karachi to cities in Punjab. The funds were withdrawn through Omni Mobile Wallet Accounts in Bahawalnagar. Efforts are being made for further investigations into the fraud and arrest the suspects.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 17^th, 2018.