Caught in the net: Conman accused of swindling Rs9.1m from trader

Tea store owner says he was lured by promises of a lucrative contract, jobs for his nephews.

PESHAWAR: Hashtnagri police has registered an FIR against Muhammad Alam for allegedly taking Rs9.1 million from the owner of a tea store. Alam had reportedly promised securing a lucrative contract to supply tea to displaced persons for the trader as well as getting his three nephews recruited as SP in the police force and officers in the Motorway Police.

Haji Zainul Wahab, the owner of Zain Tea Store on Ashraf Road, lodged an FIR, saying Muhammad Alam came to his shop and introduced himself as an assistant protocol officer at the President House, Islamabad.

The complainant said the accused promised him his nephew will be made an SP in the police force while his two other nephews would be appointed in the Motorway Police and Anti-Narcotics Force. Alam even provided Wahab with a fake appointment letter and took Rs6 million in return. Similarly, the accused promised Wahab the contract to supply the IDPs with tea bags and took away an additional Rs3.1 million, following which he disappeared.

Later, when the complainant started searching for Alam in Hayatabad, he discovered the accused was a conman and resident of Takht Bhai, Mardan. Police lodged an FIR and started investigation.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 25^th, 2014.