Sale of embassy building: AC issues notices to ex-ambassador to Indonesia, others

ISLAMABAD: The accountability court on Thursday issued notices to former ambassador to Indonesia Maj-Gen Syed Mustafa Anwar Hussain (retd) and others in connection with corruption reference filed against them regarding alleged sale of building of the Pakistan embassy in Jakarta at a throwaway price, which incurred losses of $1.32 million to the national exchequer.

Accountability court judge Muhammad Bashir, while hearing the case, issued notices to Hussain and others to ensure their presence during the next hearing to be held on Sep 17.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) filed corruption reference against the former ambassador on Aug 19 at the accountability court.

According to the NAB, complaint was received from Dr Qaiser Rashid, wherein, it was alleged that offence of corruption/corrupt practices and misuse of authority has occurred at foreign missions of Pakistan in Indonesia and Japan with regard to sale of Pakistan embassy/building Chancery at throwaway prices, violating the laid down procedure.

As the NAB investigation revealed that the accused Syed Mustafa Anwar Hussain, soon after his posting as Ambassador of Pakistan to Indonesia started work on disposing of government-owned properties in Jakarta.

The ambassador without approval of the ministry/government, appointed M/s Palma Citra Permai to work as agent/broker through agreement dated July 2, 2001, without any advertisement for sale of Chancery Building, the reference said.

The probe further established that the accused with mala fide intentions through his office letter dated on Aug 20, 2001, submitted proposal regarding sale of properties into two phases.

He through his own sources communicated estimated sale price to the ministry without calling quotations through advertisement in violation of rules and procedures.

It is further established that the accused repeatedly exerted pressure on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to grant him permission for sale of the properties.

The investigation further revealed that the accused without having authority entered into an agreement for sale of Chancery building through sale purchase building agreement for an amount of 12.5 billion Indonesian (Ind) rupees.

The accused kept the fact hidden from the ministry that he had already entered into an agreement for sale of the Chancery building. The investigation further revealed that the accused finally in order to save his skin, through his letter dated April 10, 2002, approached the office of the Chief Executive of Pakistan bypassing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to get approval regarding sale of the Chancery building and the ambassador residence.

It revealed that the evaluation of Chancery building was carried out by Embassy of Pakistan through M/s Ray White. The M/s Ray White through its letter dated July 18, 2016 provided the market value of the Chancery building in the year 2002-2003.

The report established that the accused by selling the property has caused loss of $1.32 million (equivalent to Rs13.45 billion Ind rupees) to the national exchequer. Thus, the accused committed the offence of corruption and corrupt practices as defined under Section 9 (a) (vi) punishable under Section 10 of the NAO, 1999.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020