ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday, overturned a three year sentence in the corruption case of former Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) Chairman Tauqeer Sadiq, DawnNews reported.

A two-member bench of the IHC was hearing an appeal filed by Tauqeer Sadiq, the main accused of the Ogra corruption case, against the verdict of the accountability court which gave him a three year sentence for repeated absence from the court.

After hearing arguments from both sides, the IHC overturned the verdict of the accountability court, but also denied his bail petition.

On May 7, an accountability court had sentenced the former Ogra chairman to three years in prison for not appearing before the court during the proceedings of a corruption reference against him.

The court also issued perpetual warrants for his arrest and ordered the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to confiscate his assets and properties.

Sadiq is the principal accused in the Rs82 billion scam case, and fled to Abu Dhabi after the Supreme Court on November 25, 2011, declared his appointment as chairman Ogra illegal and ordered his arrest for corruption.

He allegedly has close links with a senior leader of the PPP who reportedly played a major role in his escape from Pakistan despite cancellation of his passport and inclusion of his name in the Exit Control List (ECL).