Rs70m embezzlement: SC rejects Thatta accountant's plea

KARACHI: The Supreme Court on Monday turned down a plea of a senior accountant at the education department against his dismissal from service over corruption charges.

Irfan Sheikh, who was posted in Thatta district, challenged his dismissal over alleged involvement in embezzlement of over Rs70 million.

An apex court bench, headed by Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed, heard the cast at Karachi registry.

During the hearing, the chief justice asked a lawyer representing the appellant: “Do you think we don’t know what happens in government accounts?” “This is an embezzlement of Rs70 million but Rs7 billions are even embezzled,” he remarked.

“You say this is a human error but Rs70 million got embezzled,” the country’s top judge observed.

The counsel said his client was a senior accountant at the Thatta education department.

The ID that was used to transfer the funds in question was in everyone’s use, he said, adding an inquiry conducted into the matter didn’t take into account key facts.