A key accused in the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) mega corruption scandal has confessed to his role in the multi-billion-rupee fraud, the accountability court was informed on Wednesday.
According to case proceedings, RDA stenographer Jahangir Ahmed reportedly admitted before the court that his share in the Rs2.5 billion corruption was Rs135 million. Following the approval of his plea bargain request, he deposited the first instalment of Rs4.5 million in court.
The prime suspect’s brother related to the former RDA Director Finance who died by suicide has been shifted to jail, while Jahangir Ahmed was released after the plea bargain was accepted. Sources confirmed that the accused is the son-in-law of former Rawalpindi district nazim Javed Akhlas.
The investigation revealed that Jahangir transferred the embezzled funds from RDA’s official account to his wife Saima’s bank account. The prosecutor said the accused now faces dismissal from service, as NAB laws render a convict ineligible for public employment for 10 years.
Accountability Court Judge Sheikh Ejaz Ali announced the decision, while the NAB Chairman also approved the plea bargain. Officials said the development has tightened the net around remaining accused persons.
Sources added that a decision has been taken to arrest all officers involved in the scandal.
