Karachi [Pakistan], July 5 (ANI): The prime suspect in an alleged PKR 8.5 billion corruption case involving the Karachi Mobility Project’s (KMP) Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Yellow Line has approached a provincial anti-corruption court seeking post-arrest bail, according to Dawn.
The court issued notices to the prosecution and the investigating officer (IO) and scheduled the matter for July 11.
The presiding judge also ordered that the principal suspect, Zameer Abbasi, be sent to prison on judicial remand.
The alleged multi-billion-rupee embezzlement case was registered after the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) Sindh named Abbasi, a Grade-19 provincial officer who served as project director of the Karachi Mobility Project.
Also named in the investigation are the then director of procurement, Jhaman Das, and several others. The case follows an inquiry by the Chief Minister’s Inspection, Enquiries and Implementation Team Department (CMIE&ITD) into alleged financial irregularities related to the transportation project, Dawn reported.
Following the completion of Abbasi’s physical remand, Investigating Officer Inspector Sher Zaman presented him before the court, stating that the preliminary investigation had been completed.
During the hearing, a member of the ACE’s Combined Investigation Team (CIT) told the court that millions of rupees in payments had allegedly been approved without bank guarantees, placing public funds at risk.
Based on the findings presented, the court remanded Abbasi to judicial custody until July 13. The jail authorities were also directed to produce him via video link at the next hearing.
The case has been registered under Sections 409, 420, 467, 468, 471, 477-A, and 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code, covering offenses including criminal breach of trust by a public servant, cheating, forgery, use of forged documents, falsification of accounts, and common intention. The charges have also been filed under Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947, according to Dawn. (ANI)
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