Fake accounts suspect remanded in NAB custody

Sindh Land Utilisation Department official to be probed for causing Rs800m loss to exchequer

ISLAMABAD: An accountability court on Friday remanded Aftab Ahmed Memon, one of the suspects in multi-billion rupees fake accounts case, in 13-day custody of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) so that the graft-buster may probe his alleged role in illegal allotment of government land.

The court also directed authorities to carry out a medical examination of the suspect and present the report. Earlier Memon, who worked as a secretary at Sindh Land Utilisation Department, was presented before the Accountability Court Judge Muhammad Bashir.

NAB prosecutor Wasiq Malik told the court that the suspect had allegedly concealed all the record. “It was not possible to recover the record without taking the suspect into custody,” he said, requesting the court to give the suspect in NAB custody for 14 days.

“The suspect caused a loss of Rs800 million to the exchequer through illegal allotment of government land. Documents must be recovered for further investigation,” he said.



Memon’s counsel opposed the demand for physical remand and challenged arrest of his client. He said several other people of the department were part of the committee for land allotment. “The authorities did not make any case against anyone so it is injustice to frame a case against my client,” he said.

During the hearing, the suspect kept on speaking.  Noting this, the judge asked him to come nearer and explain the situation. He said he had all record but the record NAB was referring to was held by a section officer and not him.

Addressing the court, Memon also questioned how he could singlehandedly misuse his powers. “The law secretary is also a part of the allotment committee. Why have I been named in the case when all those involved have not been nominated?” he asked.

The judge demanded that other members of the committee should also be included in the probe. The suspect has raised objection against his nomination in the reference, he said.  NAB said other members of the committee were also being probed.

Later, when the court remanded Memon in NAB’s custody, the defence counsel requested the judge to allow him to meet his client during the remand period.  NAB said such permission was unjustifiable.

The judge said blood relatives are allowed to meet a suspect. However, an application must be submitted in the court if the counsel also wants to meet the suspect. The court will decide the application on merit, he noted.