KARACHI: The Customs Court granted bail to suspect namely Sheikh Aamir son of Shahabuddin, who was booked in a case of attempting to smuggle non-duty paid 21,680 kilogram betel nuts.
On August 20, 2018, counsel for the above mentioned accused filed bail petition and argued that his client is innocent and was falsely implicated in this case, who made assurance to the court that he would be present each and every date of hearing before the court, therefore, court may grant his bail.
After the hearing, court granted his bail against the surety of Rs200,000 and directed him to appear before the court on next date of hearing.
According to the prosecution, on a actionable spot information was received to the effect that a considerable quantity of smuggled/ non-duty paid foreign origin betel nuts has been dumped at godown situated at plot no B-9 SITE, Karachi brought there the garb of bitumen (dammar) loaded drums and removed from that premises shortly, pursuant to the said information a customs team was constituted headed by the deputy collector of customs Preventive to conduct the raid and search accordingly.
Investigation officer informed the court that team reached above mentioned spot and recovered huge quantity of jute bags containing betel nuts, low quantity of betel nuts mixed with bitumen (dammar), in some drum and empty drums of bitumen, the huge quantity of foreign origin assorted colour/size rolls of printed plastic film waste material lying inside the said premises.
Investigation officer further informed that after recovered said goods, owner of said godown was asked to produce lawful documents of said goods, however, he failed to produce any lawful documents, therefore, after formalities, Sheikh Aamir was arrested and said goods also was seized by the customs officials.
According to the interim charge sheet owner of the seized betel nuts Habibullah is still absconder in this case and prosecution is trying its best for his arrest.
According to the FIR, case was registered against above mentioned suspects for violation of under Section 2 (s) 156 (2) and 178 of Customs Act, 1969 punishable under Clauses 8 & 89 of Section 156 (1) ibid read with Section 3 (1) of Imports & Export Control Act, 1950.
