Rs5m embezzlement: Reference filed against two ex-PASSCO officers

The officers made less dispatches of wheat against the consigned weight.

LAHORE: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Punjab has filed a reference in the accountability court against a former purchase inspector and a former assistant purchase inspector of the Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (Passco) for causing a loss of Rs5 million to the public exchequer.

According to the reference, an investigation was authorised by NAB against the two accused persons on a complaint filed by the management of Passco.

It was revealed during investigation that the former purchase inspector Shaukat Hussain Shah, in connivance with the former assistant purchase inspector Maqbool Ahmad, caused a loss of Rs5,064,308 through misappropriation of Passco wheat stocks.

While at their posts at the Pattoki Railway Station Reservoir-II from 1987-88, the accused deliberately made short dispatches of wheat against the consigned weight.

During departmental proceedings, both accused were found guilty and were dismissed from service. During the course of inquiry and investigations, both accused also had a joint interrogation but could not prove their innocence.

After a detailed scrutiny of records and collection of incriminating evidence against the accused, NAB Punjab has filed Reference No 28/2010 against the officers in the accountability court, Lahore.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 22^nd, 2010.