KARACHI: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Thursday extended the remand of eight suspects in police custody in a case pertaining to the kidnapping of a crypto trader, who had paid digital coins worth $340,000 for his release from captivity.

After the completion of the last remand of eight suspects CTD constables Ali Sajad and Muhammad Umer, along with Haris Ashar, Mohammed Rizwan Shah, Noman Riffat, Tariq Hasan Shah, Muzamil Raza, and Umer Jilanithe investigating officer (IO) produced them before the administrative judge of the ATC in Clifton to seek an extension of their physical custody.

At the outset of the hearing, the IO requested an extension of the suspects` physical custody as the remaining amount had yet to be recovered and the investigation was still incomplete.

Meanwhile, the counsel for the crypto trader, Barrister Uzair Ghouri, informed the court that he had filed an application before the magistrate to record his client`s statement under Section 164 of the CrPC. He claimed that the police had failed to write the `exact verbatim` statement of the crypto trader, Arsalan Malik.

Barrister Ghouri confirmed to Dawn that notices had been issued on the application and the statement would be recorded on Saturday.

After hearing both sides, the court extended the suspects` police custody for another two days.-Staff Reporter