Official clout: DCO’s gunman arrested for corruption

He claimed he was collecting money on DCO’s behalf.

FAISALABAD:

Judicial Magistrate Shahid Hameed on Monday granted three-day physical remand of the district coordination officer’s gunman to the anti-corruption police.

Anti-Corruption Assistant Director Zahid Masood Nizami told The Express Tribune that Imran Ahmed, the DCO’s guard, had been arrested on charges of corruption.

He said Ahmed was arrested from Lahore and handed over to Faisalabad Anti-Corruption Police on Sunday night.

He said Ahmad was tasked with guarding the Faisalabad DCO in 2004.

He said Ahmad used to attend calls for the DCO from 2004 till his arrest.

“He took messages on behalf of the DCO when he was busy in meetings,” he said.

He said Ahmad reportedly received some money from a local industrialist, claiming that it was for the DCO.

He said the industrialist later contacted the DCO to seek confirmation.

“The DCO denied responsibility and started an inquiry to find out why his name was being used to get money from businessmen,” he said.

He said the investigation team concluded that Ahmad had collecting money from traders and industrialists.

DCO Noorul Amin Mengal said, “When I found out what was happening, I alerted the police and the Anti-Corruption Department. Ahmed was suspended from service.”

The DCO said the investigation had revealed that the gunman had purchased a house for Rs2.2 million at Chak 219-RB Talianwala and had set up a general store at a cost of Rs2.5 million at Kokianwala.

He said the man had also purchased a car for Rs1.9 million.

The DCO said some other officials may also have been in cahoots with him.

Anti-Corruption Department officials said the man had confessed to taking money from various people on behalf of the DCO.  A lawyer representing Ahmed told the court that his client was being tortured and his confession had been forced out of him. The lawyer urged the court to order a medical examination his client.

The court accepted the plea and ordered the DHQ hospital administration to examine him.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 10^th, 2014.