09 January 2004	Friday	16 Ziqa'ad 1424

ISLAMABAD, Jan 8: The National Accountability Bureau has so far recovered Rs1.5 billion in the Alliance Motors scam out of the total misappropriated amount of Rs3.571 billion, an official said on Thursday.

The official said the second instalment of the recovered amount would be disbursed to affectees of the scam soon. The first instalment in this regard was distributed in October 2003 to 41 major investors.

He said Rs920 million were recovered through the sale of surrendered properties and assets while Rs120 million were obtained through plea bargain deals.

The NAB has formed a special desk to facilitate the affectees of this scam, the source added. He said depositors would get their money back after every six months, adding they would receive up to Rs2.5 billion in this regard.

The official said only genuine claimants would be given their money back, adding that out of a reported 48,000 affectees, about 10,000 persons claiming large sums appeared to be bogus.

The NAB is in the process of ascertaining the genuineness of claimants, the source added. The total number of accused was stated to be 44, of which 31 included 24 men and seven women had so far been arrested while 10 men and two women were stated to be still at large, he said.

The source said six of the accused had been released after striking plea bargain deals. The NAB has so far unearthed 147 properties belonging to the 44 accused and the money is being returned to the claimants through sale of these properties.