Large-scale crime: Accused in land scam sent to jail

The suspects were allegedly involved in a land scam worth millions of rupees

KARACHI: An anti-terrorism court sought on Wednesday the charge sheet against two suspects accused of embezzlement worth millions of rupees and also financing crimes using the embezzled money.

The case was registered against Faisal Masroor and Mujibullah Siddiqi in late June as they were handed over to the police by the Rangers following the end of their 90-day preventive detention. Their earlier arrest was made alongside a real estate giant Babar Chughtai, who was later released.

The suspects were presented before the ATC-III judge, Saleem Raza Baloch, for the fourth time in one month. Unlike the previous hearings, the investigators asked the judge to send the suspects to jail, contending that their custody for questioning was no longer required.

The judge sent them to jail on a judicial remand, directing the investigating officer to submit the charge sheet at the next hearing on August 12.

The suspects were involved in the embezzlement of millions of rupees and, using that money, financed and patronised crimes in the city.

The investigators said that they employed China cutting of land to embezzle the money, of which the most affected area is Surjani Town.

An investigating officer said that property documents seized from the suspects have been sent  for verification and if they are found fake, more cases will be registered against them.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 6^th, 2015.