PESHAWAR, Feb 3: An accountability court here on Friday approved plea bargain of former provincial additional secretary Mohammad Raheem Khan, charged in cases of corruption and misuse of authority in purchase of official helicopters and other affairs.

The accused has paid Rs24 million as plea bargain amount, which was determined earlier by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman. Khan was arrested in November last year by the NAB, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and he later filed a plea bargain application under section 25 of the NAB Ordinance 1999, agreeing to pay the amount he had allegedly embezzled.

The chairman had accepted Khan’s application and after determination of the amount to be paid by him the case was referred to the accountability court, presided by Afsar Shah for approval.

Under the NAB Ordinance the accused now stands disqualified from holding any public office for 10 years.

The NAB had alleged that the accused was posted as deputy secretary in administration department in April 2008. By virtue of his appointment he was holding the charge of drawing and disbursing officer and later promoted as additional secretary.

It was alleged that certain accounts were opened in the name of deputy secretary administration. It is added that on the approval of competent authority Rs841.9 million was deposited in one of the accounts for the purchase of helicopters by the provincial finance department for subsequent payment to the suppliers.

The NAB noted that Rs829 million was paid to suppliers leaving a balance of 13.57 million in the account. The accused illegally transferred Rs11.72 million out of the unspent amount and embezzled it.

Moreover, 50 per cent rental income generated from Shahi Mehman Khana, Peshawar, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House, Islamabad, amounting to Rs8.4 million was also allegedly embezzled by the accused.