LAHORE: A local court on Thursday sent five officials of the National Cyber Crimes Investigation Agency (NCCIA), including Additional Director Sarfraz Chaudhry, to jail on judicial remand in a bribery and abuse of authority case linked to YouTuber Saad ur Rehman — popularly known as Ducky Bhai — and his wife Aroob Jatoi.
The court also granted a two-day physical remand of Assistant Director Shoaib Riaz while rejecting the investigation officer’s plea for a five-day extension, citing insufficient evidence. Judicial Magistrate Naeem Wattoo expressed displeasure over the slow pace of the investigation, remarking, “At the speed you’re working, the investigation won’t be completed even in 14 months, let alone 14 days.”
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The case revolves around allegations that NCCIA officers demanded bribes and misused their authority during an inquiry involving the YouTuber couple. Aroob Jatoi, who appeared before the court, earlier claimed that senior NCCIA officials received millions in bribes in exchange for “relief” for her husband.
According to the FIR, nine officials, including Deputy Director Operations Islamabad Muhammad Usman and Deputy Director Ayaz Khan, were named in the corruption case. Jatoi alleged that Assistant Director Shoaib Riaz received Rs9 million through intermediaries, later distributed among senior officers, and that some NCCIA staff also facilitated illegal online activities.
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The court ordered the authorities to submit a progress report at the next hearing, as investigations continue into what has become one of the most high-profile corruption scandals involving Pakistan’s cybercrime agency.