ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Consul General in Jeddah, Khalid Majid said on Thursday he urged the Pakistani community to “strictly comply” with precautionary measures put in place by Saudi authorities to curb the spread of coronavirus.
In a statement, the Consul General extended his best wishes to the Pakistani community residing in the western region of the Kingdom in the wake of the outbreak of the global pandemic which has so far claimed four lives in Saudi Arabia with 1,203 confirmed cases.
“I also request the community to remain calm and continue praying to Almighty Allah for His mercy,” Consul General Majid said.
“I would like to extend my deep appreciation and complete support to the Saudi government’s proactive and effective measures to ensure safety and protection of its citizens and residents against COVID-19 threat,” the statement read, and added the consulate would remain accessible round the clock to the Pakistani community for information and guidance.
The Kingdom has called on citizens to adhere to social distancing measures by staying at home during the curfew applied throughout the country.
Saudi police arrested four citizens in Riyadh who violated the curfew set in place to curb the spread of the virus, state news agency SPA reported on Sunday.
Jeddah consul general urges Pakistani community to comply with kingdom’s virus restrictions
https://arab.news/jp37q
Jeddah consul general urges Pakistani community to comply with kingdom’s virus restrictions
- Says appreciates Saudi government’s rules for safety against COVID-19 threat
- Over 1,200 people have been infected in Saudi Arabia with four fatalities
Two Pakistani men indicted in $10 million Medicare fraud scheme in Chicago
- Prosecutors say defendants billed Medicare and private insurers for nonexistent services
- Authorities say millions of dollars in proceeds were laundered and transferred to Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: Two Pakistani nationals have been indicted in Chicago for allegedly participating in a $10 million health care fraud scheme that targeted Medicare and private insurers, the US Justice Department said on Thursday.
A federal grand jury charged Burhan Mirza, 31, who resided in Pakistan, and Kashif Iqbal, 48, who lived in Texas, with submitting fraudulent claims for medical services and equipment that were never provided, according to an indictment filed in the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
Medicare is the US federal health insurance program primarily serving Americans aged 65 and older, as well as certain younger people with disabilities.
“Rooting out fraud is a priority for this Justice Department, and these defendants allegedly billed millions of dollars from Medicare and laundered the proceeds to Pakistan,” Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement.
“These alleged criminals stole from a program designed to provide health care benefits to American seniors and the disabled, not line the pockets of foreign fraudsters,” he added. “We will not tolerate these schemes that divert taxpayer dollars to criminals.”
Prosecutors said that in 2023 and 2024, the defendants and their alleged co-conspirators used nominee-owned laboratories and durable medical equipment providers to bill Medicare and private health benefit programs for nonexistent services.
According to the indictment, Mirza obtained identifying information of individuals, providers and insurers without their knowledge and used it to support fraudulent claims submitted on behalf of shell companies. Iqbal was allegedly linked to several durable medical equipment providers that filed false claims and is accused of laundering proceeds and coordinating transfers of funds to Pakistan.
Mirza faces 12 counts of health care fraud and five counts of money laundering. Iqbal is charged with 12 counts of health care fraud, six counts of money laundering and one count of making a false statement to US law enforcement. Arraignments have not yet been scheduled.
Three additional defendants, including an Indian, previously charged in the investigation, have pleaded guilty to federal health care fraud charges and are awaiting sentencing.
An indictment contains allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
