KARACHI, May 29: An accountability court sentenced on Wednesday Dr Mohammed Usman Farooqui, a former chief of the Pakistan Steel Mills, and a former general manager of the mills, to suffer a 12-year term and pay a fine of Rs150 million each in a corruption reference.

Judge Rahmat Hussain Jafferi of AC-3, who is also the administrative judge of all ACs in Karachi, however, acquitted Mir Raza Ali, a former director for marketing, in the case.

The case pertained to the sale of 15,933 tons of scrape (end cuts of steel) and the accused were charged with committing the act of criminal misconduct and criminal breach of trust to unlawfully gain Rs230 million.

The judge also disqualified Mr Farooqui and ex-GM Hissamuddin from holding any public office for 10 years. Besides, the judge ordered that the defaulter on the payment of fine would have to undergo an additional three-year term of simple imprisonment.

The judge also ordered the release of the three beneficiaries — Irfan Uddin, proprietor of Faran Iron Mart, Yasin Siddiqui, director of Y. S. Pvt Ltd and Qamaruddin of Ironex Enterprises — after they returned the benefits gained from the shady deal.

The former PSM chief, who has been convicted in four corruption cases, is facing trial in three more cases in the federal anti-corruption court.