KARACHI: Model Customs Collectorate Appraisement-East successfully solved the case of some missing pay orders which were removed fraudulently and were en-cashed in the individual accounts of private persons.
As many as two pay orders of were unearthed during the internal audit by MCC Appraisement-East. According to reports, on verification from banks – NIB Bank, Bank Alfalah, HMB and Bank Al Habib – that issued pay orders, it was confirmed that the missing pay orders were en-cashed at the National Bank of Pakistan, Nadir House Branch, Karachi.
Furthermore, it was revealed from the banks’ record that these pay order were en-cashed in personal accounts of Tariq Saeedi and Imtiaz Ahmed.
Overall, 11 pay orders to the tune of Rs 19.65 million were en-cashed, out of which five pay orders amounting to Rs 11.28 million were deposited in the account of Imtiaz Ahmed and three amounting to Rs 5.69 million were deposited in the account of Tariq Saeedi. Moreover, three pay orders were adjusted against GDs, amounting to Rs 2.68 million.
After 100 percent recovery of the missing pay orders, two FIRs bearing number 02/2015 and 03/2015 dated February 27, 2015, were lodged against Syed Rizwan Rashid, the manager of NBP, Nadir House Branch, and account holders Tariq Saeedi and Imtiaz Ahmed.
Out of nine accused persons, seven were arrested, namely Syed Rizwan Rashid, NBP OG-III M Yousuf, Rizwan Shoukat Churra, Tariq Saeedi, Rizwan Shoukat Churra (Fazal & Co) as mastermind having a share of 55 percent, Tariq Saeedi (employee of Fazal & Co), M Aamir and Babar Hashim Jamal, Customs BG Cell Steno Typist Kamran Mehndi, while two accused named Shoaib and Imtiaz Ahmad are still at large and have been declared as absconders.
On confrontation, NBP branch manager Syed Rizwan Rashid arranged fresh pay orders of Rs 19.65 million as replacement of the missing pay orders from his own sources, thus the amount was 100 percent recovered.
Sources said that Collector Manzoor Memon after receiving the information give the task to his team to resolve the case at their earliest.
After the recovery of the amount, the matter came to the knowledge of Federal Board of Revenue Chairman Tariq Bajwa, who appreciated the efforts of the MCC Appraisement-East.
He also directed other collectorates to follow the imprints of Appraisement-East with a view to achieve the desired results.
The Appraisement-East had also forwarded some suggestions to the FBR for consideration with a view to block such ill practices in the future.
Some are as follows:
There should be no contact between the custodians and the importer/clearing agent.
Securities should be kept NTN/party wise with the custodian/security officer.
Securities should only be deposited/released by the securities office r instead of the custodians.
Physical stock taking of securities instruments in juxtaposition to pay orders/PDCs received through WeBOC system as well as manually.
For expiring securities, option should be available for replacement of the expiring security in the system.
Bulk encashment of pay orders for generating extra revenue is the major risk factor for misappropriation of the pay orders, which should be avoided.
The DC (Securities) should be in the loop for deposit/release of the securities.
There should be standard procedure for working of the securities section, recently the MCC Appraisement-West has issued an SOP vide Standing Order 3/2014 dated September 10, 2014 which is recommended to be followed by all the collectorates.
