PESHAWAR: An accountability court on Tuesday approved plea bargain of a director of the Provincial Housing Authority (PHA), after he agreed to deposit Rs17.1 million in a case of possessing illegal assets.

The accountability judge Syed Asim Imam directed that the accused, Salauddin, be set free as he had deposited the required amount.

He was arrested by the National Accountability Bureau, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on Oct 30 on charges of possessing illegal assets in different cities.

A NAB prosecutor, Hasnain Tariq, stated that the Bureau`s chairman had already accepted his plea bargain application and the case was referred to the accountability court for final approval.

Under section 25 of the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999, the NAB`s chairman is empowered to accept such applications, but he has to refer the pleas to the accountability courts for final approval.

The NAB claimed that an inquiry was authorised to ascertain the real facts and to collect requisite evidence regarding moveable and immoveable properties owned, controlled and possessed by the suspect in his own name and in the name of his dependents.

During inquiry it was revealed that the suspect, during his service in the PHA, had accumulated huge assets disproportionate to his known legal sources of income.

The properties allegedly possessed by the suspect included three plots at Regi Model Town, Peshawar, a 16 marla plot in Islamabad, a one kanal plot at Hayatabad, Peshawar, a double-storey house at phase seven of Hayatabad, another house at phase 2 of Hayatabad, an eight marla plot at DHA Islamabad, and two vehicles.-Bureau Report