FIA seeks more time to grill Anwar Majeed in fake bank accounts case

KARACHI: A banking court on Thursday reserved its verdict into a plea of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), seeking more time for questioning Omni Group head, Anwar Majeed and others in fake bank accounts case.

At the outset of the hearing today, the joint interrogation team (JIT) of FIA, formed to probe into fake bank accounts, informed the court that the investigation was underway with Anwar Majeed, Abdul Ghani,, Hussain Lawai and Talha Raza, imprisoned in Landhi Jail.

“Probe was underway from the accused of the scam in Landhi Jail and the investigators need four more days for recording their statements”, the counsel of FIA pleaded the court.

However, the defence counsel while opposing the JIT’s plea said in his argument thatn ” an accused cannot be interrogated after jail custody.”

The banking court after hearing arguments from the both sides adjourned the hearing  after reserving the judgment into the plea seeking more time to record statements of the accused.

The court will announce its judgment on the matter tomorrow.

Yesterday, Anwar Majeed had skipped court appearance as his counsel presented a medial certificate stating that the business magnate was suffering from bipolar disorder.

The court expressed its displeasure over the absence of Anwar Majeed, and said that every next individual is said to be going through the bipolar disorder.

“This disease is not something very severe that the suspect could not be brought for the case hearing,” the court added.

Censuring the medical report submitted by Majeed, the court summoned the doctor, who prepared the report, in the next hearing.

The fake accounts case

The Supreme Court in July had taken up a suo motu case regarding fake accounts that revolves around a 2015 inquiry into the suspicious transactions when 29 ‘benami’ bank accounts were identified. Seven individuals were found involved in transacting Rs 35 bn suspiciously.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) is currently investigating this money-laundering scam which involves former president Asif Ali Zardari, his sister Faryal Talpur, and close aide Anwar Majeed and other influential people.

The accounts were allegedly used to channel funds received through kickbacks.

The investigation has, however, revealed that the amount laundered can go up to Rs 100 billion.