KARACHI: The Customs Court rejected interim pre-arrest bail to suspects namely Muhammad Iqbal, proprietor of M.M Trading, Qaiser Abbas, clearing agent, Muhammad Idress, Muhammad Ali, Muhammad Ahsan and Muzammil in a case of evading duties and taxes to the tune of Rs74,036,216.
After dismissal of interim pre-arrest bail, customs officials arrested all the above-mentioned suspects from out-side the court room.
On August 26, 2019, above mentioned suspects appeared before the court along with their counsels, during the hearing, investigation officer sought further time for submitting final charge sheet. Counsels for the applicants argued that court may confirm their interim pre-arrest bail, however, counsel for the customs department strongly opposed their conformation of pre-arrest bail.
After the hearing, court dismissed interim pre-arrest bail of all suspects and customs officials arrested them from out-side the court room.
According to the interim charge sheet against Imran, owner of M/s Al-Aswed Associates, Muhammad Irfan, M/s ERA Marine Agencies, Ihtishaam and Muhammad Idrees, M/s SHUFS Logistics, Muhammad Ali, MuhammadAhsan, Muzamil and others and argued that an information was received that above mentioned importers imported a consignment declared to be 92 bales of used clothing weighing 16600 kgs manifested to have been shipped from United Kingdom contrary to actual port of loading Jabel Ali, UAE.
He further stated that information further revealed that the importers in active connivance with their clearing agents and other accomplices have mis-declared the description, quantity, origin, classification of the imported goods by submitting false, fake and fabricated information to evade legitimate of government revenue.
He disclosed that during the examination of said consignment, customs officials found multi-function printers, used laptops, laptops cables, smart phones, used LG tables with SIM and other goods having total value of Rs70,874,595.
Investigation officer said in his charge sheet that during the investigation, it was revealed that above mentioned importers submitted incorrect information committed a fraud by issuing false bill of lading by mentioning port of loading as London Gatwick instead of actual port of loading Jabel Ali UAE, therefore, case was registered against them for violation of customs act and for incorrect information submitted to the customs and facilitated the importer and their accomplices to defraud customs as well as national exchequer.
According to the charge sheet, Imran Haroon, Muhammad Irfan are confined in Central Jail Karachi and 6 suspects are still absconders in this case.
