BUSINESS RECORDER REPORT
ISLAMABAD (December 15 2009): The Supreme Court on Monday directed National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to submit a detailed report, including supporting documents, regarding Swiss case and 60 million dollars frozen in Swiss accounts through money laundering reference against (now President) Asif Ali Zardari. The court termed the report submitted by NAB Chairman Naveed Ahsan regarding Swiss Case as incomplete and asked him to submit a detailed report here on Tuesday.
On December 9, after going though the list of NRO beneficiaries submitted by the NAB, the court had directed the Bureau to submit a detailed record of money spent by the government in pursuing the case, status of the case, claim of the government over the money and justification for shifting the case record from Geneva to London.
NAB chairman said that Rs 188.347 million (about19 crore) were given to Swiss lawyers while Rs 4.1 million spent on the foreign visits of 17 government officials. Justice Tassdaq Hussain Jillani pointed out a dual statement given in the NAB report that sentence against late Benazir Bhuttoo had attained finality, however, were declared innocent later on.
The report said that on October 3, 1997 the government had filed a request for international judicial assistance addressed to the Examining Magistrate of the Canton of Geneva. The purpose was to carry out investigation against Benazir Bhuttoo, (now President) Asif Ali Zardari and Begum Nusrat Bhuttoo who were suspected to have benefited from an undue enrichment whilst carrying out their official duties.
On July 30, 2003 the examining magistrate rendered an ex parte sentencing order against Ms Bhutto and others implicated for money laundering. The order stated that a company known as Bomer Finance was owned by Asif Ali Zardari and that the assets of the said company amounting to $2,484 000 laying in the Swiss Bank accounts be confiscated.
The order was subject to objection by the parties within fourteen days. In the absence of objection, the sentencing order becomes final and binding, said the report. Neither Benazir Bhutto nor Asif Ali Zardari had been legally served in the investigation and had not been associated with the investing proceedings and claimed there total innocence as the case was false and fabricated and politically motivated; as such they filed objections pursuant to their right under the order.
On May 22, 2008 the Attorney General for Pakistan wrote to the prosecutor general in Geneva in the following terms. 'We hereby confirm that the Republic of Pakistan having not suffered any damage withdraws in capacity of civil party not only against Mr Asif Ali Zardari but also against Mr Jens Schlegelmich and any other third party concerned by these proceedings.
The Republic of Pakistan thus confirms entirely the withdrawal of its request of judicial assistance and its complements, objects of the proceedings. Request for mutual assistance made by the then government, which already stand withdrawn, was politically motivated.
Contract was awarded to pre-shipment inspection companies in good faith in discharge of official function by the state functionaries in accordance with rules. The Republic of Pakistan further confirms having withdrawn itself as a damaged party and apologised for the inconvenience caused to the Swiss authorities'. The bench questioned as to why the government withdrew its claim over the money by apologising the Swiss authorities. The NAB chairman will submit the detailed report here on Tuesday.
source- Business Recorder
ISLAMABAD (December 15 2009): The Supreme Court on Monday directed National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to submit a detailed report, including supporting documents, regarding Swiss case and 60 million dollars frozen in Swiss accounts through money laundering reference against (now President) Asif Ali Zardari. The court termed the report submitted by NAB Chairman Naveed Ahsan regarding Swiss Case as incomplete and asked him to submit a detailed report here on Tuesday.
On December 9, after going though the list of NRO beneficiaries submitted by the NAB, the court had directed the Bureau to submit a detailed record of money spent by the government in pursuing the case, status of the case, claim of the government over the money and justification for shifting the case record from Geneva to London.
NAB chairman said that Rs 188.347 million (about19 crore) were given to Swiss lawyers while Rs 4.1 million spent on the foreign visits of 17 government officials. Justice Tassdaq Hussain Jillani pointed out a dual statement given in the NAB report that sentence against late Benazir Bhuttoo had attained finality, however, were declared innocent later on.
The report said that on October 3, 1997 the government had filed a request for international judicial assistance addressed to the Examining Magistrate of the Canton of Geneva. The purpose was to carry out investigation against Benazir Bhuttoo, (now President) Asif Ali Zardari and Begum Nusrat Bhuttoo who were suspected to have benefited from an undue enrichment whilst carrying out their official duties.
On July 30, 2003 the examining magistrate rendered an ex parte sentencing order against Ms Bhutto and others implicated for money laundering. The order stated that a company known as Bomer Finance was owned by Asif Ali Zardari and that the assets of the said company amounting to $2,484 000 laying in the Swiss Bank accounts be confiscated.
The order was subject to objection by the parties within fourteen days. In the absence of objection, the sentencing order becomes final and binding, said the report. Neither Benazir Bhutto nor Asif Ali Zardari had been legally served in the investigation and had not been associated with the investing proceedings and claimed there total innocence as the case was false and fabricated and politically motivated; as such they filed objections pursuant to their right under the order.
On May 22, 2008 the Attorney General for Pakistan wrote to the prosecutor general in Geneva in the following terms. 'We hereby confirm that the Republic of Pakistan having not suffered any damage withdraws in capacity of civil party not only against Mr Asif Ali Zardari but also against Mr Jens Schlegelmich and any other third party concerned by these proceedings.
The Republic of Pakistan thus confirms entirely the withdrawal of its request of judicial assistance and its complements, objects of the proceedings. Request for mutual assistance made by the then government, which already stand withdrawn, was politically motivated.
Contract was awarded to pre-shipment inspection companies in good faith in discharge of official function by the state functionaries in accordance with rules. The Republic of Pakistan further confirms having withdrawn itself as a damaged party and apologised for the inconvenience caused to the Swiss authorities'. The bench questioned as to why the government withdrew its claim over the money by apologising the Swiss authorities. The NAB chairman will submit the detailed report here on Tuesday.
source- Business Recorder
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