FAISALABAD: Customs Adjudication Collector Mirza Mubashir Baig has ordered the impounding of a Hino Truck under the customs bylaws while issuing an Order-In-Original (ONO) in favour of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Khushab.
Following a tip-off, the Khushab Customs Intelligence intercepted a Hino open truck with registration No: SI-4223 (Sibi), Model 1991, near Hadali Chowk, Khushab, and asked Driver Muhammad Zareef son of Muhammad Sher to show the documents regarding the legal import of the vehicle. But he failed to produce the same.
The Customs Intelligence took into possession the vehicle and sent its chassis for forensic test. The report revealed that the number was bogus. The report also clarified that present chassis number is not original, so the case was sent for adjudication.
During the personal hearing, the counsel for the respondent did not submit any written reply to the show cause notice to defend the case. The adjudication observed that lack of interest in his defense clearly transpired that the respondent has no arguments to defend the allegation.
Intelligence Officer Mansoor Nasir appeared from the prosecution side and asserted that the impounded vehicle falls under the ambit of section 2(s) of the Customs Act-1969 as the chassis of the vehicle was found cut or welded and replaced with the manipulated documents of a locally produced bus. He also asked the court to issue orders regarding the impounding of the Hino open truck.
So Collector Mirza Mubashir Baig, after reviewing the record of the case, commented that the charges levelled in the show cause notice are established. He issued an ONO No: 16/2017 and ordered the impounding of the vehicle under Section 156(1)89(1) of the Customs Act-1969.
