ISLAMABAD, Jan 2: An accountability court was informed on Wednesday that the plea-bargain request of ex-naval chief Mansurul Haq had been accepted in principle by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman.

However, the court could not issue release order of the accused when it was informed that NAB had not yet received the first instalment of $5 million.

Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, on behalf of the accused, told the court that the amount could not be remitted from the US due to the Christmas holidays. However, it would be paid within a week, he said.

Prosecutor General Raja Bashir did not oppose the request. Later, the judge, Rustum Ali Malik, of the Accountability Court No I, deferred the hearing till January 9.

Reports emanating from different quarters about the deal reached between NAB and the accused suggest that the former naval chief will have to deposit $5 million (Rs305 million) as a first instalment, out of a total amount of $7.5 million (Rs457.5 million). The remaining amount will be paid in easy instalments within one year.

The plea-bargain application of Mansurul Haq has been accepted by the NAB chairman under Section 25 of the NAB Ordinance.

In his application, the accused had asked the court to stay the proceedings in the corruption reference against him and direct the NAB authorities to release him after making arrangements for receiving full amount of the alleged corruption money.

Earlier, the court had indicted the admiral for receiving kickbacks, commissions and bribe to the tune of $3.369 million from the foreign suppliers in defence deals, after his similar plea-bargain request was rejected by the former NAB chairman.