RAWALPINDI: Following the alleged embezzlement of huge sums of foreign currency and other valuables confiscated by Mandra police from an ex-official of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and others, the city police officer (CPO) suspended the station house officer (SHO) and the investigating officer on Friday, who were later taken into custody.

However, police have been waiting for a formal complaint from the FIA to lodge an FIR against the officials allegedly involved in the embezzlement of huge foreign currency from the FIA headquarters in Islamabad.

On June 3, Mandra police arrested three suspects who were caught red-handed taking case properties reportedly stolen from the FIA’s Commercial Bank Circle (FIA-CBC) in G-13 headquarters.

Sub-Inspector (SI) of Mandra police station Aqueel Hussain, who is leading the investigation into the case, said he was on duty at Mandra toll plaza when he signalled a car with five occupants to stop.

He said that instead of stopping, the driver sped away. After a brief chase, the car was forced to stop and a brief search revealed 19 parcels containing case properties including foreign and local currency, as well as other valuables.

The SI said during preliminary interrogation, the driver identified himself as Saad Anwar, a dismissed official of the FIA, while the other man travelling with him in the front seat introduced himself as Mohammad Hamza.

During investigation, it was revealed that the suspects had allegedly stolen local and foreign currency as well as other valuables from the FIA’s CBC located in the G-13 headquarters in connivance with Abdullah Khan, Mehtab Ali and Hassan on Saturday.

The investigating officer said Abdullah, who was associated with the FIA, Saad Anwar and another suspect were arrested and handed over to Islamabad police for further investigation.

He said police raids were underway to arrest the other two suspects, adding that the real amount stolen from the FIA’s CBC would be estimated.

However, after the case was registered, the FIA lodged a complaint with CPO Khalid Hamdani against the Mandra police, accusing them of misappropriating the money they had recovered. An inquiry was initiated after the police recovered Rs150 million from the suspects but mentioned Rs50 million on the record.

During the inquiry, the SHO was unable to give a satisfactory reply about the money recovered during the raid.

The CPO suspended SHO Malik Yasir and posted Inspector Mohammad Nazir in his place. The former SHO and other officials were then taken into custody. A senior police official said the FIA was in the process of filing a formal case against the police personnel.

Published in Dawn, June 22nd, 2024