PESHAWAR, Nov 30: An accountability court here on Wednesday sentenced a former security guard of State Bank of Pakistan to three years rigorous imprisonment with fine of Rs59.9 million for deceiving general public.

The court presided over by Mr Afsar Shah observed that the evidence on record connected the accused, Sirajuddin Khan, with the commission of offence.

The court also sentenced him to three months imprisonment under section 310-A of the National Accountability Bureau Ordinance 1999 as he had remained absconder for many years.

The National Accountability Bureau (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) had alleged that the accused used to receive money from general public on pretext of providing them prize bonds.

He had deceived around 50 persons before escaping in 2006.

The NAB had filed a reference against him the same year charging him of deceiving general public to the tune of Rs59.9 million. He was arrested early this year and tried by the accountability court.

Special prosecutor Lajbar Khan appeared for the NAB and argued that the evidence provided by the witnesses proved that the accused had cheated dozens of persons. He added that his remaining absconder also proved his involvement in this offence.

Meanwhile, another accountability court presided over by Mr Syed Kausar Abbas Zaidi acquitted eight officials of the traffic police including a deputy superintendent charged with issuing around 5000 driving licences without entry into official record.

The accused facing trial included DSP Abdur Rauf Swathi and seven clerks named Jamshed Pasha, Nadeem, Saleem, Mehr Gul, Sakhi, Hastham Khan and Azizullah. The NAB had alleged that they inflicted a loss of around Rs1.7 million to the national exchequer.

Barrister Mudassir Amir and Advocate Wali Khan Afridi appeared for the accused and contended that the traffic police had conducted an inquiry into the allegations and that inquiry had proved that no illegal driving licences were issued by them.

They added that the accused were falsely implicated in the case and the inquiry had revealed that if any loss of money took place it was only of Rs300.