KARACHI: The Customs Court granted bail to eight suspects against the surety of Rs200,000 each, who were booked in a case of attempting to smuggle 761 mobile phone sets of different brands worth Rs8,002,000.
On October 10, 2018, counsels for suspects namely Khan Muhammad, Altaf Ahmed, Asghar Khan, Ali Hassan, Amanullah, Saleh Muhammad, Allauddin and Amir Hamza filed bail applications and argued that prosecution mis-leaded the court and they have been falsely implicated in this case, who are ready to face trail. After the hearing, court granted their bail and directed them to appear before the court on next date of hearing.
On last date of hearing, investigation officer of Customs Colletorate, Hyderabad Preventive submitted interim charge-sheet and informed that on actionable information, a team of customs department along with other law enforcement agencies intercepted Toyota Saloon GLI car bearing registration number BLX-830, Toyota Saloon GLI car bearing registration number AWB-407 and Toyota Land Cruiser jeep bearing registration number BF-6573 near Larkana Range.
He submitted that during the search of the said vehicles, customs team found 761 mobile phones sets of different brands valuing at Rs8,002,000 and asked suspects namely Khan Muhammad, Altaf Ahmed, Asghar Khan, Ali Hassan, Amanullah, Salah Muhammad, Alluddin and Amir Hamza to produce lawful documents; however, they informed that they all are drivers and do not have any lawful documents of said mobiles phones.
Investigation officer further informed that after the formalities, customs team arrested all the above-mentioned suspects and also seized said mobile phones and vehicles.
He said that owner of the said vehicles namely Syed Zaffar Abbas Rizvi, Muhammad Saleem, Shabir Ahmed are still absconders.
According to the prosecution, case was registered against them for violation of Section 2 (s) 15 & 16 of Customs act, 1969 read with SRO 566(1)/ 2005 dated 06/06/2005, further read with SRO 499 (1)/2009 dated 13/09/2009, punishable under Clauses 8 & 89 of Section 156 (1) of Customs Act, 1969 and Section 157 (1) (2) (a) of the Customs Act, 1969.
