KARACHI, Oct 18: An accountability court sentenced on Thursday an assistant director of the Karachi Development Authority (KDA) to suffer five-year rigorous imprisonment for raising assets and properties through corrupt means.

Judge Rahmat Hussain Jafferi of AC-3 also imposed a fine of five million rupees on Mirza Zahid Amin, who would have to undergo an additional two-and-half-year term in case of default on the payment.

The court ordered the confiscation of the assets and properties of the accused, who joined the KDA as assistant director, land, in 1987.

The confiscated properties included bungalow No. 60/1, 11th Commercial Street, Defence Housing Society and plot No. A-5, Sector-II, in Sindh government Employees Cooperative Housing Society, both in the name of Mrs Zahid Amin, and the amount deposited in his account with the MCB.

The judge also disqualified the accused from holding any public office for 10 years.

“He shall not be allowed to apply for or be granted any financial facility in the form of any loan or advance or other financial accommodation by any bank or financial institution owned or controlled by the government”.

Accused Amin served as assistant director from 1987 to 2000, during which he indulged in corruption and amassed assets and properties in the name of his wife through illegal means.

The assets and properties of the former KDA official were found quite disproportionate to his legitimate and known source of income as he was drawing a salary of Rs9,625 only per month.

During his entire service, he drew a total salary of Rs9,65,812, whereas the value of his assets is more than Rs6.6 million.