Hooked and booked: Former police chief charged in weapons scam

Malik Naveed accused of causing massive losses to exchequer

PESHAWAR: An accountability court has formally indicted former IGP Malik Naveed in a Rs2.03 billion scam involving the procurement of weapons for the K-P police. The former police chief was initially arrested on November 20, 2013.

The court also framed charges against budget officer Javed Khan. Both officials have been accused of causing massive losses to the national exchequer after taking kickbacks for approval of the weapons contracts.

During the hearing on Tuesday, Judge Muhammad Ibrahim Khan framed charges against both suspects. However, he refused to admit the charges of bribery against them. Prosecutor Daniyal Chamkani appeared on behalf of NAB in the case.

Both were charged for committing the crime with the active connivance of former Frontier Constabulary commandant Abdul Majeed Khan, former additional IGP operation Abdul Latif Khan, DIG Central Police Office Sajid Ali Khan, former DIG headquarters Muhammad Suleman Khan, the then AIG establishment CPO Kashif Alam and former DIG telecommunication Sadiq Kamal Orakzai. They were also members of the purchase committee, but had not been summoned by the court.

“Naveed illegally processed and approved contracts of SMGs, heavy weapons, bulletproof jackets and night vision gears (NVGs) with mala fide intentions to accommodate favoured contractor and approver Arshad Majeed,” reads the indictment order.

Naveed was also accused of approving an advance payment of Rs189 million despite the fact that there were insufficient funds. The order stated the former IGP also did not properly advertise to invite tenders – a practice mandatory under K-P Rules 2003.

“You, as IGP, had complete knowledge of contractor, Arshad Majeed, who had been supplying clothing items, [that he] was not qualified for weapons and technical equipment. You allowed, rather planted, Majeed to supply arms, ammunition and equipment worth billions of rupees” stated the order.

Naveed was charged with compelling the supplier to increase the rates of bulletproof jackets by Rs7,000 per piece and directed him to pay Rs200 million to Amir Ghazan Hoti through Raza Ali Khan. He was further charged with directing the supplier to pay Rs20 million to suspect Niaz Ali Shah.

The former police chief was charged with ignoring requests to provide weapons at the already approved rate in 2008-2009. The order also stated that the officer received kickbacks of Rs360 million from Majeed besides nine split air conditioners worth Rs479,000.

The court charged budget officer Javed Khan with illegally preparing and processing NITs, tender proceedings and making payments with ulterior motives to provide benefits and favours to Majeed. These assertions were supported by Majeed’s statement in court under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

“You illegally entered fake call deposit numbers and, in some cases, accepted the bid documents of Majeed’s company and its sister organisation without call deposits. You also did not obtain the 10% bank performance guarantees from Majeed,” read the indictment orders against Javed.

He was also charged for paying Majeed for a contract which was actually awarded to Happy Traders. He also did not deduct government taxes from Majeed.

It was stated that Majeed paid Rs420 million to Javed as kickbacks and purchased a house for him in Phase-VI, Hayatabad. In addition, the contractor also gave a motorcycle out of the lot imported for the K-P police and also financed a Hajj trip for Javed.

“Rs4.12 million in cash, three pistols and other important items were recovered from your house which were part of the kickbacks you received which shows your involvement in the illegal process of procurement and payments” read the order.

Both the accused reportedly caused losses worth Rs2031.255 million to the national exchequer and participated in corruption under Section 10 of the National Accountability Bureau Ordinance 1999.

The court has summoned the witnesses in the case and a formal trial would commence from July 9. The Supreme Court has directed the accountability court to complete the trial of this case within four months by holding regular hearing.

Former chief minster’s brother Amir Ghazan Hoti was acquitted in the case while his relative Raza Ali Khan paid Rs224.5 million to NAB under the plea bargain.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 8^th, 2015.