Team Herald
PANJIM: The Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) sleuths of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) have booked a Customs officer and his wife for allegedly amassing huge wealth disproportionate to his actual source of income.
CBI sources told Herald that Brian Pereira, while working as Preventing Officer from 2008 to 2018 and thereafter on being promoted as Superintendent of Customs (Goa) in 2019, amassed assets to the tune of Rs 19.29 lakh approx allegedly through corrupt and illegal means.
As per details shared with this reporter, during the last over a decade, Pereira’s income was calculated at around Rs 34.95 lakh while the expenditure was recorded at Rs 35.26 lakh approx. This means he should have likely savings of Rs (negative) 31,000 approx. “However, Brian is found to have amassed assets worth Rs 18,97,716 in his own name and of his family members. The disproportionate amount works out to be Rs 19,26,246 which is 55.2 percent of his income for the check period (March 1, 2011 to August 27, 2019),” reads an extract from the First Information Report.
In view of these revelation followed by raid at his office and residence, an officer said that it prima facie reveals commission of cognizable offense. Brian is booked under Section 13(2) read with 13(1)(b) of the Prevention of Corruption Act while his wife Annserin Pereira is booked under Section 109 (abetment) of IPC.
Sources said that the husband-wife duo would be summoned for interrogation in the office of the CBI at Bambolim with directions to not leave the State and/or country. The team will also check for further bank records, if any as well as properties. However, arrest of any of the two alleged accused at this stage is ruled out.
