PESHAWAR: The main suspect in the Kohistan mega corruption case has once again approached NAB for a plea bargain.
According to sources, the accused, Ayub, submitted a fresh application to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), offering to return Rs3.45 billion.
This is not the first time Ayub has sought a plea deal. His earlier request was rejected because the amount offered was lower.
NAB officials revealed that Rs3.45 billion was traced from the accused’s account at the National Bank’s Dasu branch. This amount is now being offered as part of the settlement.
The Accountability Court in Peshawar had earlier directed NAB to consider the plea bargain process. As a result, Ayub proposed to return the amount in three installments, which NAB has agreed to accept.
It is now expected that NAB Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will formally approve the new plea bargain request in the coming days.
Meanwhile, the special accountability court granted NAB a seven-day physical remand of the accused. Ayub was produced before the court on the previous day.
During the court hearing, NAB’s prosecutor explained that Ayub was arrested as part of the ongoing investigation into the Kohistan multi-billion-rupee scam. The prosecutor said Ayub is a central figure in the case, and his bail had already been denied.
NAB argued that more questioning is required to trace the full extent of the financial wrongdoing. The court accepted NAB’s request and granted the physical remand to allow further investigation.
The Kohistan scam is one of the largest corruption cases in the region, involving billions of rupees in illegal financial activity. Authorities believe that Ayub played a key role in managing these funds and shifting money through various channels.
If approved, the Rs3.45 billion plea bargain would be one of the highest settlements in NAB’s history for a single suspect.
The case continues to unfold as NAB works to recover stolen public funds and hold those responsible accountable.
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