For an extra buck: Teenage security guard held for extortion

Ali demanded Rs5 million from the owner of a construction firm.

ISLAMABAD: A teenage security guard was arrested from Sector G-13 on Friday after he demanded Rs5 million as extortion from a local businessman.

The head of the Special Investigation Unit (SIU), SP Capt (retd) Ilyas Ahmed said Akhtar Ali, a resident of Nowshera, was working as a security guard in a private house in Sector G-13/4.

Ahmed said on July 28, a man had lodged a complaint at the Karachi Company Police Station after he received a call from Ali, who demanded Rs5 million as extortion from the complainant who owns a construction firm.

Following the complaint, SIU made a special team to trace out the extortionist. Sharing details, the official said the complainant has a construction business and Ali was working close to one of the houses his firm had constructed and was then selling in Sector G-13.

The police believe Ali got the complainant’s number from a banner announcing the sale out of the house.

According to initial investigation, the young extortionist made seven calls in two days to the complainant demanding extortion. The police official said during investigation, Ali confessed to the crime, saying he belongs to a poor family and is the youngest among six brothers. After closely monitoring the complainant, he decided to extort money from the businessman, said the police quoting Ali.

The police said apparently it was individual act of extortion however there is a possibility that one of his friends might have assisted him.

Further investigation is under way and police are hopeful to arrest Ali’s accomplice. The police also recovered a pistol and few rounds from Ali’s possession.

The police said an FIR was already registered by the Karachi Company police and a second one will be registered for the illegal weapon. On Saturday (today), Ali will be produced before a court for obtaining his remand.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 1^st, 2015.