Major forex dealers arrested: FIA to seek Interpol assistance in forex scam

[Naveed Yaseen]

LAHORE: Director General FIA Tariq Pervez, while talking to Geo News, said the government would seek Interpol assistance to arrest those culprits abroad who received illegally transferred currency there.

Revealing the biggest ever monetary-scandal of the country DG FIA claimed that government had figured out culprits who transferred billions of dollars abroad illegally and soon government would take massive action against them in the country as well as abroad.

Meanwhile, dollar dealers across the country including dealers at all the major airports of country are being strictly monitored, sources said.

Earlier, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Lahore arrested two persons accused of running an illegal currency business and initiated an interrogation regarding their alleged involvement into laundering millions of rupees abroad.

The FIA has launched a country-wide crack down against those running a business of ‘Hundi’ and illegal business of currency transfer. As a result, two persons allegedly carrying on illegal business of currency transfer locally known as ‘Hundi’ have been arrested from Gujranwala and shifted to FIA Lahore Headquarter for interrogation.

Assistant Director FIA, Arif Aiwan arrested two persons, Naimatullah (Manager) and Tariq Mehmood (Cashier) associated with a local forex company.

Director General FIA, Tariq Pervez says on the directive of Federal Government some of the persons involved in creating economic crisis in the country were arrested after they were identified.

Talking to Geo News, he said Javed Khanani was arrested from Lahore while Manaf Kalia from Karachi.

He said two persons Rustam Ali Khan and Tariq Mehmood were arrested from Khanani and Kalia’s franchised companies Duniya Enterprises

DG FIA Tariq Pervez said important evidence has been collected in the ongoing operation including computerized database, documents and large amounts of currencies.

He said further investigation is underway after lodging a case in this connection at FIA Gujranwala Region.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/updates.asp?id=59645

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Munaf Kalia admits link to forex swindle: FIA

KARACHI (updated on: November 08, 2008, 21:30 PST): Renowned money changer Munaf Kalia has admitted his involvement in illegal transfer of foreign exchange to abroad, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) sources told on the condition anonymity.

Munaf Kalia was arrested during raids in Karachi to arrest people involved in illegal transfer of foreign currency to abroad.

Another money dealer Javed Kalia was detained in Lahore.

According to the sources, during the fiscal crisis in previous weeks massive amounts of foreign exchange were illegally transferred out of the country.

Earlier, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) had warned the Forex companies not to involve in illegal activities.

According to details, in the operation against people who are involved in foreign money scandal FIA Authorities have arrested Chief of Local Money Exchange Khanani and Kalia, Munaf Kalia.

The operation was put in action after intelligence agencies gathered reports regarding illegal activity.

Meantime, some Nadra people have also been arrested. According to sources, these people abetted the money-changers through duplicate identity cards.

Furthermore, Khanani and Kalia office situated at II Chundrigar and through put the country has been sealed off and the security personnel of a federal intelligence agency have been deployed outside the office.

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