KARACHI: The Special Court of Customs Taxation and Anti-Smuggling has directed customs’ investigation officer to submit an interim charge-sheet in a case pertaining to unlawful clearance of a consignment that contained 71,400 pieces of mobile phones worth Rs 107 million.
Judge Syed Faiz Rasool Rashdi adjourned the hearing till December 26. The court also extended the interim bail granted to M/s Digicom Trading (Private) Limited’s director Zeeshan Yousuf and manager Haris Siddiquie.
According to the details of the case, the customs authorities had received a tip-off that a cartel along with other accomplices have planned to get a container cleared fraudulently under the guise of Transshipment(TP) scheme but they could not succeeded in shifting the container under TP scheme due to fear of being caught by the authorities.
Subsequently, they tried to obtain re-export permission from the MCC-Appraisement under the guise of frustrated cargo but their request was declined. Being perplexed with the situation the same cartel manipulated to clear the goods on payment of duty and taxes at Karachi instead of filing TP for its transportation to up-country by way of maneuvering and preparing fake identities and suspiciously managing NOC and authorization.
Consequently, the container, which arrived from Hong Kong and was lying at MTO Yard, West Warf, Karachi was subjected to scrutiny and examination which led to recovery of 71,400 pieces of mobile phones worth estimated at Rs 107.1 million. The container belonged to M/s Zawah Impex and Co. Lahore and the same was to be transported to Lahore under TP scheme.
Suspect Rahim Sultan Ali in collusion with accused Zeeshan attempted to get the goods cleared on payment of duty and tases through maneuvering the documents. Haris Siddiquie, employee of M/s Digicom issued the authorization documents. Another suspect Junaid was also involved in the crime whose role would be ascertained during the investigation.
