Court sends three on 10-day physical remand in fake accounts case

Also extends judicial remand of five accused in money laundering for 14 days

ISLAMABAD: An accountability court (AC) on Friday sent three suspects in fake accounts case on 10-day physical remand while extending judicial remand of five accused in money laundering case for 14 days.

In fake accounts case, AC-I judge Muhammad Bashir granted 10-day physical remand of three suspects apprehended by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) two days ago from Karachi.

NAB authorities had presented suspects Khursheed Jamali, Syed Asif Mehmood and Syed Arif Ali before the court.

On the occasion, Mehmood and Ali, the two accused, submitted a wakalatnama of their counsel Hashmat Habib while NAB prosecutor submitted an appeal seeking 14-day remand of the suspects.

The prosecutor maintained that the suspects were involved in corruption during the purchase of machinery for Nooriabad Power Company.

The machinery was procured from outside the country, the prosecutor said, adding that the suspects spent Rs20 for an item that would cost Rs10 and more investigation is needed.

During the hearing, defence counsel opposed the physical remand of the suspects and said that NAB has alleged that the case pertains to money laundering. It must be told how the case falls under money laundering, the counsel inquired.

The court after listening to the arguments handed over the suspects on a 10-day physical remand while advising NAB officials to present the suspects in the next hearing on June 3.

In money laundering case, AC-I judge Muhammad Bashir extended the judicial remand of five suspects booked in the fake accounts and mega money laundering case for 14 days.

Suspects Iqbal Khan Noori, Muhammad Hanif, Saleem Faisal, Farooq Abdullah and Sher Ali were presented before the court after end of their judicial remand at Adiala Jail.

The court in its order has sent all the five suspects on a further 14-day judicial remand.

Meanwhile, AC-II judge Muhammad Arshad Malik after the end of physical remand of accused Naudero House in-charge Nadeem Bhutto ordered changing his custody status into judicial remand.

NAB requested the court to extend the physical remand of the suspect. However, the request was turned down.