Multi-billion rupees arms scam: Prosecution witnesses reveal embezzlement

Say purchase was brought on record first so payment could be given in advance.

PESHAWAR: Prosecution witness in the 2009-2010 weapons fraud case revealed purchase receipts for arms for the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) police were illegally produced before the actual purchase of the weapons, to get payment in advance.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) arrested the contractor, Arshad Majeed and Police Department Budget Officer Javed Khan for their alleged involvement in a seven-billion-rupee procurement deal.

The contract was for arms, ammunition, related equipment and vehicles for the K-P police. It was discovered government funds had been misappropriated and the payment for procurement was made to Majeed in advance of the actual purchase which is a violation of the standard procedure.

In a case hearing on May 22, Majeed’s bail plea was accepted when he agreed to return Rs102 million and help reveal others involved in the scandal.

While recording his statement before court of Judicial Magistrate Muhammad Ilyas Khan, Majeed confessed to bribing former K-P police chief Malik Naveed, former K-P chief minister Amir Haider Khan Hoti’s brother Ghazan and Hoti’s adviser Niaz Ali Shah.

Central Police Officer (CPO) in-charge warehouse inspector Abdullah Jan, CPO Assistant Inspector Hameedullah and CPO Store Keeper Gul Mashal recorded their statements before the judicial magistrate in the presence of NAB Investigation Officer Inayatullah.

Witnesses also revealed fraud in the purchase of night-vision goggles.

They maintained Majeed produced purchase receipts and asked to be paid in advance. His receipts were recorded and he was paid. Night-vision goggles were bought in June 2009 but were supplied to the store in September.

Jan stated the purchase of 18,000 AK-47s and 72,000 magazines was recorded for the time period of May 5 to May 20, 2009 but the arms were actually bought from China in August and September 2009.

Upon the instructions of Budget Officer Javed Khan, Hamidullah claimed, a note sheet of 69,000 extra magazines (worth Rs80 million) was prepared after the purchase committee’s meeting. The note sheet was approved by then IGP Malik Naveed in June 2009 but the ammunition was never purchased.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 4^th, 2013.