HYDERABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) is probing withdrawal of around Rs15m from Liaquat University Hospital’s bank account in August and September 2022.

The FIA moved into action on a request made by LUH medical superintendent Dr Hafeez Abro into the alleged fraud. The MS has lately proceeded on leave.

FIA additional director Wasi Hyder confirmed to Dawn at his office that an inquiry was indeed under way though it was not yet finalised by investigating officer.

Dr Abro had addressed two letters to the Hyderabad FIA one of which, dated Sept 17, informed it that an amount of Rs12.58 million had fraudulently been withdrawn between Aug 4, 2002 and Aug 30 through 11 attempts in favour of a woman, Tehmina Abid.

He stated that the LUH management had informed manager of the bank branch concerned located outside the hospital, and requested the FIA to investigate the matter. Through the second letter dated Sept 19, the MS claimed that an amount of Rs2,352,446 was withdrawn from the same account between Sept 8 and 15. He sought recovery of the amount after an inquiry. The name of beneficiary of this amount was not mentioned in the letter.

The LUH administration uses the account for keeping call deposits of different vendors, who participate in bidding for the hospital’s diet stuff and other sources. Its additional MS, Dr Shahid Islam Junejo, has been appointed focal person to pursue the matter. He also confirmed to Dawn that such an investigation was under way. Some progress in the withdrawal of LUH funds through fraudulent means had been made, he added.

He said the cheques in question pertained to tenures of four different MSs of the hospital.

Information obtained by Dawn revealed that 16 cheques were used for the withdrawal of the amounts. Of them, five cheques were signed by the then medical superintendent and senior medical officer whereas 11 cheques were signed by the additional MS and the then director administration, accounts and development.

A hospital source claimed that fake cheques were used by a woman and bank officials did not verify them. He said that one cheque appeared to be as old as 2018 and was surprisingly enchased in August 2022.

The cheques pertained to different periods in which four medical superintendents -- Dr Siddique Pahore, Dr Mubashir Kolachi, Dr Shahid Islam Junejo and Dr Abdul Hafeez Abro – have held the charge but the director administration remained the same since then.

Tehmina Abid, whose name has been mentioned in the Sept 17 letter for probe, was said to have received the amount of Rs12.58 million while the other withdrawn amounts were received by some males.

These amounts were withdrawn in Karachi, Sukkur, Lahore and Rawalpindi, said the hospital source.

According to an FIA source, one account of the Diagnostic and Research Laboratory (DRL) of the Liaquat University of Medial and Health Sciences (LUMHS) was also active in the name of LMCH.

“For withdrawal of this amount the bank staff made confirmation on a phone number of the laboratory as per record available with bank in line with ‘call back information (CBC)’ policy of bank,” said the source.

A fake cheque book with all modern bank codes was prepared while original cheque books were with the LUH administration.

“The matter has become complicated for now and many questions are to be answered. The original cheque book is with LUH,” said a source.

“It is to be seen whether the things were managed at the hospital’s end or at bank’s,” said the source.

An FIA investigating officer is likely to visit the hospital and its diagnostic lab for recording statements of the officers concerned.

Published in Dawn, November 4th, 2022