KARACHI: The Customs Court granted bail to suspect namely Abdul Ghani, son of Muhran Gul, who was booked in a case of attempting to smuggle contraband betel nuts etc.
On Monday, a counsel for the accused filed petition for after-arrest bail and argued that his client is innocent and was falsely implicated in this case, who is ready to face trial, therefore, court may grant him bail till judgment in this case. After the hearing, court granted him bail against the surety of Rs200,000 and directed him to appear on next date of hearing for conformation of bail application.
On last date of hearing, investigation officer Sadam Hussain submitted interim charge-sheet and informed the court that on a credible information, a team of customs department found a high wall truck bearing registration no C-3150 parked inside the compound of City Railway Station Karachi and one person standing beside the truck, who introduced himself as Abdul Ghani.
He was asked about the goods loaded in the truck to which he stated that his cousin namely Habib Ullah is working as a cleaner on the said truck and he came with him from Quetta as a helper of driver namely Abdul Wali and he is not aware of the goods loaded in the said truck.
Investigation officer further informed the court that during the search of said truck, customs officials found 111 bags containing 6750kg betel nuts valuing at Rs1,593,000; 800 sets QMobile phone made in China worth Rs1,695,000; 1180 kilogram Ratan gutkha valuing at Rs590,000; 500 kilogram Bajra (millet) valuing at Rs472,500 from load truck.
He informed the court that the said accused was asked to produce documents of the above-mentioned smuggled goods who failed to produce any lawful documents; therefore, after the formalities, the customs teams seized the said goods along with truck and arrested him.
According to the prosecution, the case was registered for violation of under section 2 (s) 16, 139 of the customs act, 1969, punishable under clause (8) (89) & (70) of section 156 (i) ibid read with section 3 (iii) of Import and Export (Control) Act, 1950 & baggage rules notified vide SRO-666(1)/2006 dated 28/06/2006.
