Sessions Court sentences Investigating Officer to 10 years in prison

PESHAWAR, Jun 04 (APP):In an important ruling the Peshawar Sessions Court sentenced a police investigating officer to 10 years in prison for negligence during the investigation of a murder case.

The case was heard by Additional Sessions Judge Imtiaz Ali, who found police officer Hidayatullah guilty under Sections 193 and 186. The court ordered his immediate transfer to Central Jail, Peshawar to serve the sentence.

According to the court’s judgment, the investigating officer failed to send crucial digital evidence, including a CCTV DVR and hard drive, to the relevant forensic laboratory for examination. The officer also neglected to record statements from eyewitnesses, which adversely affected the investigation.

During the proceedings, the accused argued that the video footage and other evidence collected from the crime scene could not be sent for forensic analysis due to workload and official commitments. However, the court rejected this explanation, stating that professional responsibilities could not justify such serious lapses.

The judgment further noted that the officer was unable to provide satisfactory answers to several questions raised by the court regarding the handling of the investigation.

The courtroom witnessed dramatic scenes when the convicted officer allegedly attempted to flee during the hearing. Security personnel acted swiftly, preventing his escape and arresting him.

The court emphasized that poor investigation practices and negligence in handling evidence undermine the justice system and, therefore, require strict legal action.