Axact probe suddenly given to FIA Corporate Circle

KARACHI: The investigations into the Axact scam have suddenly been transferred from the Cyber Crime Wing to the Corporate Circle.
Experts fear this may be an attempt to divert the probe. They say the FBR, Customs, SBP, SECP, NAB and banks fall under the corporate sector, while computers, servers and other equipment used in the software industry come under the Cyber Wing. They said both the Cyber Crime Wing and Corporate Circle should have been jointly assigned the probe.
An expert, who is a retired official, told The News that only subject specialists are assigned a probe on any subject. It is a normal procedure in the world and also in Pakistan. He said an expert in the corporate circle is unlikely to understand the basics of computer equipment. The change in investigators happens where some desirable outcome has to be achieved, he said.
An FBR official, however, said there are competent people in the Corporate Circle and they can do what is assigned to them as the main department of both sections is one. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has taken strict action against Axact Pvt. Ltd in Rawalpindi where its offices were sealed, officials detained Rawalpindi where its offices were sealed, officials detained and record confiscated. However, in Karachi, two FIA teams visited the Axact head office giving the impression of a raid.
Sources said the Interior Ministry had ordered investigation into Axact affair after a scam was reported in the New York Times.Two teams of FIA were formed for this purpose. The Islamabad team took a strict action but the Karachi team, comprising 10 officials from the cyber crime wing, visited the Axact head office where they were welcomed by security in charge, who is a retired major.
All team members were taken to the library as per plan where they interviewed Axact officials. When the team wanted to see the fake degrees as has been mentioned in the media, it was given the degree samples.
The team was served well for about three hours. When the media reached the scene, the FIA Corporate Circle officers came and sent the cyber crime team members back. Sources said these officials too did not do a solid action and seized no mentionable record. They did not take with them the main servers of the company or any data device as did the Islamabad team. No one was detained or asked to visit the FIA office for questioning.
The sources said close relatives of officials of FIA, police etc. working in the Axact continued helping the teams of investigators. They said officials of FIA and the police used to visit the Axact office and higher government officials have close relations with the Axact big guns. Time has come for these relationships to pay off.