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Published 04 Aug, 2012 10:40am

Olympic visa scam: Court sends key suspect on judicial remand

ISLAMABAD: A local Pakistani court has sent one of the key suspects in the so-called UK Olympics visa scam, Abid Chaudhry, for a 14-day judicial remand, DawnNews reported.

The Federal Investigative Authority (FIA) presented Chaudhry, who is associated with the Dream Land travel agency, in court on Saturday.

FIA officials informed the court today that the passport scandal was currently being further investigated, after which civil judge Matiur Rahman ordered Chaudhry to be sent on a 14-day judicial remand.

Previously, the court had ordered a two-day physical remand for the defendant.

The scandal came to the fore after the British tabloid “The Sun” published a report of an alleged scam involving fake documents for travel to London, in connection with Pakistan’s Olympic contingent.

However, an investigation conducted by the National Database Registration Authority (Nadra) had dismissed the claims, calling the report a “fake scam.”

“The  Sun” said its report was based on information backed by a footage of Abid Chaudhry (an agent for the Dream Land travel agency) claiming how for around £7,000 he could get its man a two-month visa…and smuggle him into London 2012 as part of Pakistan’s Olympic squad.

Chaudhry claims he is innocent and that the real culprit is Mohammad Ali Asad.

The Pakistani government has registered a case against Asad for fraud, impersonation and mis-declaration, and is seeing his deportation from the United Kingdom, while also declaring him as the main accused in the case.

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