Peshawar court approves Rs38 million plea bargain in Kohistan embezzlement case

An accountability court in Peshawar has approved a plea bargain of Rs38.05 million by Saran Zeb, a private contractor accused in a high-profile embezzlement case involving the Upper Kohistan district accounts office. The decision was announced on Wednesday by Judge Mohammad Zafar.

The case pertains to the alleged embezzlement of over Rs37 billion from the Upper Kohistan district accounts office. Saran Zeb, one of the accused, submitted a plea bargain agreement with the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), which the court accepted. The judge stated that the plea bargain was entered into by the accused with his full consent and without any coercion or pressure.

The court further noted that the amount embezzled by Saran Zeb, totaling Rs38.05 million, had already been paid in full by the accused through bank cheques in favor of the NAB chairman. As a result, Judge Mohammad Zafar ordered that Saran Zeb be released if he is not required in any other case.

In addition to approving the plea bargain and ordering his release, the court declared that Saran Zeb is now discharged from his liability in this case. However, under Section 15 of the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999, he stands disqualified from holding any public office in the future.

The proceedings mark a significant development in the ongoing investigation into the alleged large-scale financial irregularities in Upper Kohistan. The court's order emphasized that the plea bargain was made voluntarily by the accused and that all legal requirements had been fulfilled.