ISLAMABAD:
The defence ministry could not recover Rs1.53 billion embezzled by its 81 army and civilian officers even after about two decades.
On Monday the defence ministry representative told the sub-committee of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) that they could only recover Rs29 million.
According to the representative, majority of the ministry officials avoided penalties and legal action against them through litigations.
These details came to light during the scrutiny of a special audit report at the meeting of a sub-committee of the PAC. The scam took place during 1992-97 and was uncovered by the audit authorities in April 2001.
A defence ministry representative informed the meeting that the 81 military and civilian officials were investigated and found guilty of having embezzled Rs1.53 billion from the accounts of the Military Engineering Services (MES). This sum was siphoned off thanks to fake purchases, fictitious spending and fraudulent payments.