NICL case: More people retract testimonies against Moonis

Claim investigators had them sign a few blank papers.

LAHORE:

Three more prosecution witnesses have denied that they recorded a statement before the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) against Moonis Elahi in the National Insurance Corporation Limited (NICL) case.

Appearing before the Banking Offences Court on Tuesday, the witnesses, Safdar, Hafiz Junaid and Mahroofur Rehman, employees of Allied Bank Limited, Multan Road branch, said that they had not recorded any statement under Section 161 of the Criminal Procedure Code to a FIA team. However, they said, FIA authorities had obtained their signatures on a few blank papers and bank records were handed over on February 5 as per the FIA’s demand. They also denied the FIA’s claims that they had met Moonis in person.

They denied that Moonis’ manager had opened any account and stated that the accounts in question were personally opened and operated by two individuals, namely Adil Manzoor and Khadim Rasul.

Summoning further prosecution witnesses, the court adjourned hearing to July 5.

According to the FIA, Moonis had opened bogus accounts in the name of his manager and his wife. Later, the FIA lodged two FIRs against Moonis, alleging that his manager opened forged accounts in Allied Bank Limited, New Airport branch, and Dubai Islamic Bank, Main Boulevard branch, in Lahore. Mohsin Warraich deposited a total of Rs320 million – Rs220 million in the first account and Rs100 million in the second account. The first FIR was registered on December 27, 2010, while the second was lodged on January 27, 2011.

The FIA alleged that the money was actually taken by Moonis. As per the FIA report, Malik had stated that he opened an account on Moonis’ instruction and Rs220 million were allegedly transferred to that account. Later, Malik also denied his statement.

Earlier, eight other witnesses had denied recording any statement to the FIA. At the last hearing, FIA investigation officer Basharat had said that Moonis was not included in the main FIR.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 29^th, 2011.