Weapons purchase scam: Court extends ex-IGP’s remand by seven days

Malik Naveed is accused of misappropriating Rs1.82 million.

PESHAWAR:

An accountability court has given a seven-day extension in the remand of former inspector general police (IGP) Malik Naveed in a weapons scam worth Rs7 billion.

On Friday, the National Accountably Bureau (NAB) produced Naveed in the court of judge Wilayat Ali Khan to obtain a 14-day remand. The court, however, only extended the remand for seven more days.



Special Prosecutor Lajbar Khan told the court during Naveed’s tenure as the provincial police chief (from 2008-2010), a deal was signed with Zafar Azfar & Co to purchase weapons and other equipment at a cost of Rs490 million, but Naveed gave the contract to a company named Majeed and Sons instead.

Khan contended the move was illegal and there was embezzlement in awarding the contract.

During Naveed’s interrogation, it was also revealed that he purchased 58 China-made motorbikes for the police department although he was only allowed to purchase motorbikes made in Japan, he added.

“This is a high-profile case and many individuals are involved. Therefore, a 14-day extension should be given in the remand in order to investigate and clarify all charges made against the accused,” said Khan.

On the other hand, Abdul Latif Afridi, counsel of the accused, said NAB wanted to pressurise his client into confessing to the charges against him. “In the 43 days that my client has been in NAB’s custody, officials have interrogated him for hardly 43 hours,” Afridi claimed. He added NAB was yet to recover substantial evidence against the accused.

Upon hearing the arguments from both sides, the court handed Naveed to the accountability bureau for seven more days.

During the last hearing on December 23, the court was told the accused did not pay Rs340 million to the tax department on the purchase of weapons. Naveed also allegedly signed a contract with a foreign company worth Rs930 million, but later the contract was given to Majeed and Sons.

Naveed had allegedly offered to pay Rs40 million voluntarily if NAB backtracks from the case filed against him but that offer was turned down. Out of the Rs7 billion weapons scam, NAB has made a reference against Naveed of misappropriating Rs1.82 billion.

The accused was arrested on November 20 and produced in court the next day and given a 14-day remand. On December 4, the remand was extended for 10 more days and has subsequently been extended in later hearings.

Earlier, NAB had arrested contractor Arshad Majeed and budget officer Khalid in the corruption scandal. Majeed voluntarily paid Rs102 million, while Khalid paid Rs42 million.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 4^th, 2014.