‘Disappearance’ of Omni Group’s sugar worth billions turns CJP’s mood sour

–Chief Justice Nisar criticises FIA over negligence after being informed that sugar worth Rs11bn went missing from mills owned by Anwar Majeed

–FIA arrests Anwar Majeed’s son Nimar outside SC’s Karachi Registry

KARACHI: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Saturday arrested Omni Group Chairman Anwar Majeed’s son Nimar Majeed outside the Supreme Court Karachi Registry’s premises, as the top court expressed anger at the federal agency over the ‘disappearance’ of sugar worth Rs11 billion from the company’s sugar mills allegedly by the management.

The apex court, resuming hearing of the mega money laundering and fake bank accounts case in Karachi earlier in the day, rejected Anwar Majeed’s request for B-class facility in prison and summoned records of Omni Group from the FIA.

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar in his remarks questioned how someone who stole the public’s money could be granted B or C class facility in prison.

During the hearing, the court was told that Rs11 billion worth of sugar had ‘disappeared’ from the sugar mills owned by Omni Group, at which the chief justice expressed annoyance and questioned how the FIA or the police could allow that to happen.

Who was involved in disappearance of Rs11 billion worth of sugar, out of the country’s total sugar assets of Rs14 billion? the chief justice asked.

FIA Director General Bashir Memon informed the court that nine sugar mills are being operated under Omni Group, and there are nine cases against the group relating to the disappearance of sugar.

Asked which sugar mills were these, the official informed that these were Naudero, Bandhi, Khoski, Ansari, Tandowala Yaar, Bawani, New Dadu, Lord, and Chamar sugar mills. He told the court that the mills were run by Omni Group, and some were located in Karachi while others were located in interior Sindh.

The chief justice asked why these mills were not guarded. Upon being told that Anwar Majeed could be involved in the disappearance of sugar, the judge asked the FIA to interrogate the chairman in prison.

The CJP then summoned Omni Group’s chief executive and other officials, and vowed to look after the case himself. During the hearing, the chief justice also expressed reservation at the use of mobile phones by Omni Group personnel in prison. The top judge directed authorities to take away their phones.

The court also summoned the group’s records from the FIA on October 30, and adjourned the hearing upon the lawyer’s request.

During the court proceedings, the FIA arrested Anwar Majeed’s other son Nimar Majeed outside the Karachi Registry’s premises.

According to FIA officials, Nimar Majeed is wanted in 11 FIRs and is accused of hiding away Rs11 billion worth of sugar taken under guarantee.

THE CASE:

The FIA  is investigating 32 people in relation to money laundering from fictitious accounts, including former president Asif Ali Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur.

Zardari’s close aide Hussain Lawai was arrested in July in connection with the probe. The former president’s another close aide and Omni Group chairman, Anwar Majeed, and his son, Abdul Ghani Majeed, were also arrested by the FIA in August. Lawai, Majeed and his son remain under custody.

Earlier this week, FIA sources informed that the mastermind of the money laundering and fake accounts case, Aslam Masood, had been arrested by the Interpol from Jeddah.