Karachi: Police officer arrested for releasing 'robber' after accepting bribe

KARACHI: Police in Karachi arrested a fellow police officer for releasing a robbery suspect after accepting Rs0.4million as bribe, ARY News reported on Saturday.

According to details, former station house officer of Shahrah-e-Noor Jahan police station Rao Umair was arrested along with his aide, former head constable Riaz Ahmed, for releasing a bank robbery suspect named Waseem after accepting hefty bribe.

Few days ago, the SHO and head constable had arrested the burglar for robbing at least more than Rs10million from an office in Naya Nazimabad area of the city but released him after accepting Rs0.4million as bribe.

The First Information Report (FIR) registered in this regard states that the two policemen had arrested the robber red-handed and then allowed him to leave the police station after accepting bribe.

The SHO and the head constable were suspended after senior police officials raided the police station on a tip off and recovered Rs0.2million each from both the police officers. The police officers confessed receiving money from the robbery suspect.

Investigation also revealed that the burglar was a close relative of the head constable.

It is pertinent to note here that back in September, an intradepartmental investigation report revealed that four senior policemen acted as facilitators of powerful smugglers bringing in goods worth millions in Karachi illegally.

The investigation report submitted by SSP West Dr Muhammad Rizwan revealed that four police officers namely ASI Haji Shehbaz, ASI Anwer Ali, Head Constable Jamshed and Head Constable Waheed were supporting and facilitating smugglers due to their “ulterior motives”.