- Omni Group submits Rs11 billion in the bank as surety
ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar on Tuesday said that the joint investigation team (JIT) probing the money laundering case has started receiving information and a report is awaited.
The CJP, while hearing a suo motu case regarding the fake bank accounts that were used to launder over Rs100 billion out of the country, asked the JIT to submit a report as soon as possible.
As the hearing went underway, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Director General Bashir Memon said, “The Omni Group has deposited over Rs11 billion in the bank as surety.”
CJP Nisar further inquired whether Omni Group Chairman Anwar Majeed, who is currently in custody for the same case and his son, Nimr Majeed were present in court.
“We did not get Nimr Majeed arrested as the matter pertains to businesses and bank loans. At this time, banks are suffering losses and you have to repay them,” the chief justice remarked.
Following this, Omni Group counsel Muneer Bhatti said, “We are in talks with banks, give us 10 days.”
The group’s second counsel, Khawaja Naveed added, “Omni Group’s accounts are frozen and loans can be repaid through them.”
However, Justice Nisar said, “Right now, we will not issue any order regarding this.”
The court then adjourned the hearing of the case till November 5.
Earlier, the JIT head had informed the bench that the quantum of alleged illegal transfers and transactions has been increased from Rs35 billion as Rs47 billion, adding that thousands of fake accounts have been identified through which the transactions were made.
Earlier this week, one of the chief accused in the case, Aslam Masood, was arrested by Interpol as he was boarding a flight from London to Jeddah.
The FIA had said that his arrest was a “breakthrough” in the case as he is the “mastermind” behind the scheme. He was one of the chief suspects in the case, along with 19 other suspects, including former president Asif Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur.
MONEY LAUNDERING CASE:
The case was initially registered in 2015 against former Pakistan Stock Exchange chairman Hussain Lawai, who is widely believed to be close to former president Zardari.
In July, Lawai was arrested in connection with the probe along with Anwar Majeed, and his son, Abdul Ghani Majeed, were also arrested by the FIA. Lawai, Majeed and his son remain under custody for interrogation.
Investigations so far have revealed that several ‘benami’ accounts at some private banks were opened in 2013, 2014 and 2015 from where transactions worth billions of rupees were made.
The amount, according to the FIA, is said to be black money gathered from various kickbacks, commissions and bribes.