ACE to follow up on embezzlement case

SHC directs ACE Sindh chairman to look into inquiry carried out against the suspended reader of the ATC-II, Karachi.

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) directed the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) Sindh chairman to look into the inquiry carried out against the suspended reader of the Anti-Terrorism Court-II (ATC-II) Karachi.

A division bench comprising Justice Amir Hani Muslim and Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi heard the criminal miscellaneous application seeking action against former reader Muhammad Junaid for embezzling defence saving certificates worth around Rs1 million, which were submitted as a surety amount by a suspect in a kidnapping for ransom case.

Applicant Zainuddin Qureshi submitted that his son, Salman Qureshi, was arrested in connection with three cases of kidnapping for ransom and illegal possession of arms.

Later, the incharge judge of the ATC-II Karachi, granted bail to Salman, on the condition that he would deposit a surety amount in the form of defence saving certificates valued at over Rs1 million on March 15.

Qureshi moved an application, seeking change of surety. He also submitted the lease documents, but the ATC court staff did not return the defence saving certificates.

ATC-II Incharge Judge Faheem Siddiqui summoned the court reader, Muhammad Junaid, who claimed that the surety had been misplaced.

The trial court initiated an inquiry, which revealed that Junaid, in connivance with the Post Office Katchehry Branch, managed to cash the saving certificates.

Afterwards, Junaid confessed in writing to have misappropriated the saving certificates and purchasing a Suzuki Cultus car from the money.

Therefore, the ATC judge sent a reference to SHC Justice Amir Hani Muslim, who summoned the home secretary on September 29 and Junaid was then suspended from duty.

On Wednesday, the ACE Sindh chairman stated that an FIR was registered at the ATC police station against Junaid.

The SHC bench directed the ACE chairman to look into the inquiry report submitted by the district and sessions judge, South on July 7. It ordered that accused Junaid must be arrested if he is not granted bail and that the investigation must be completed within two weeks. It also directed MIT-II to examine records from ATC-I and II for the period during which Junaid was working in both courts and to scrutinise any embezzlement by him in sureties submitted by litigants. The hearing was adjourned till November 10.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 30^th, 2010.