LAHORE, Feb 6: An anti-terrorism court acquitted on Tuesday three people of murder of former federal minister Derek Cyprian.

The judge ruled that the prosecution could not prove the involvement of the accused in the murder.

Former banker Hamayun Nabeel and former police inspector Ali Imran Niazi and two others were charged with the murder. The deceased’s family had already withdrawn the charge against the police inspector.

The remaining three were accused of killing the former minister to steal Rs13 million from his bank account. Police had claimed to seize Rs10.05 million from Nabeel. Cyprian had gone missing on Aug 7 last under mysterious circumstances. His daughter, Hina Cyprian, got a kidnapping case registered against the accused with Defence police. On Aug 9, his body was found in his car. —Staff Reporter