- Axact CEO sends written statement to FIA while HR head records statement, denies allegations
- SBR gives Axact seven days to provide advertisements, franchises and tax details as FIA’s Cyber Crime Cell recovers deleted Axact data
Carrying out second raid in two days at the Karachi-based company’s Rawalpindi office, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Wednesday sent the initial report of the Axact scandal to the Interior Ministry. The report carries statements of at least 23 company employees and data retrieved from its two main servers and 40 computers.
Earlier, the institution issued an official notification ordering Axact Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh to appear before the agency for interrogation in the fake degrees scandal. Shaikh Wednesday sent his written statement to FIA while company’s Human Resource Manager Ali Ghufran recorded his statement before the authorities.
According to the written statement sent by Axact CEO, the company is not involved in illegal activities and the allegations are entirely baseless and false. All the employees and administration of the company are cooperating with the authorities.
Separately, Axact HR manager took around an hour to get his statement recorded before the FIA authorities. The statement highlights that the company denies the allegations of provision of millions of fake degrees. All the activities are conducted under the rules and allegations.
In the meanwhile, FIA Corporate Crime Circle Deputy Director Kamran Atta told reporters that FIA forensics team was present at the company’s headquarters.
Regional executives of Axact have been summoned to the FIA Iqbal Town Rawalpindi Office. The summoned executives will be questioned over the activities of the company. According to sources they will also be asked about the universities which were being used and were mentioned in the NYT report.
However, the FIA authorities said that Axact CEO would be summoned in person after the investigations are completed.
DATA RECOVERY:
Moreover, according to sources, the FIA’s Cyber Crime Cell will be tasked with recovering deleted Axact data while 30 terabytes of data have been recovered from the company’s headquarters in Karachi.
Sources added that it may take 10 to 15 days to go through this data and FIA personnel and machines will be brought from Islamabad for the purpose.
Previously, the teams recovered specimens of fake degrees, seals and key documents that potentially implicate Axact of the allegations.
SINDH BOARD ISSUES NOTICES:
Furthermore, the Sindh Board of Revenue (SBR) has also issued notices to Axact, seeking details of advertisements, franchises and sales tax details of the restaurant present inside the company’s building. According to the SBR chairman, a reply from Axact has been summoned in seven days.
In the meanwhile, according to a TV report, a former female employee of the company has revealed that lawsuits follow people who wish to resign and they are dragged in courts. She said that the employees are subjected to foul language and threats. “It is like a crime gang which is easy to join but nearly impossible to quit.”
Moreover, a welder in Dubai has been reportedly fired by his employer after the Axact controversy. According to him, he got the degree from Axact for at least US $7,000 which he paid from borrowed money.
