The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Monday informed the Accountability Court that another accused of the fake bank accounts case has sought plea bargain. The NAB prosecutor informed Accountability Court Judge Muhammad Bashir that accused Syed Nadeem Altaf, Executive Vice President of Sindh Bank, has sought the plea bargain and agreed to return corruption money.
He further told the court that the plea bargain application filed by Altaf is under process. Following the NAB's request, the court extended physical remand of Altaf till August 16. However, the court turned down NAB's request to extend physical remand of accused Tariq Ahsan, President Sindh Bank, and Bilal Sheikh, ex-president Sindh Bank who is working currently as director Sindh Bank, and sent them to jail.
The NAB produced the three accused before the court on expiry of their remand term. The NAB requested the court to extend the physical remand of Ahsan and Sheikh for another 14 days to complete investigations. The court rejected NAB's request and sent them to jail. The bureau on July 10 had arrested the three accused - Ahsan, Altaf and Bilal Sheikh - in Karachi. According to NAB, Ahsan had allegedly planned a fraud in 2016. The accused with the connivance of Bilal and Altab had allegedly facilitated loan worth Rs 840 million to unnamed companies of Omni Group, the NAB prosecutor had told the court during the previous hearing. Later, this amount was given to a bank for investment, he said. Bilal Sheikh also allegedly facilitated a finance fraud in 2014 with the help of other bank officers. A huge amount was given to an unnamed company as loan, he said, adding that Omni Group was also allegedly part of this crime.