FAISALABAD: Customs Adjudication Collector Raja Tahir Majeed has ordered to impound a Hino Truck under customs laws while issuing an Order-in-Original (ONO) in favour of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation.
Following information, the Customs Intelligence intercepted an oil tanker bearing Registration GZRA-1313 Model 1997, Chassis No. FD2JKB-12110 near Chiniot Bypass Chowk, Faisalabad and asked the driver, Mohammad Ilyas son of Mohammad Roshad Khan, to show documents regarding legal import of the vehicle. But, he failed to produce the same.
The Customs Intelligence impounded the vehicle and sent its chassis for forensic test. The report revealed that the number was bogus and not original. The report also clarified that present chassis number is not original, so the case was sent for adjudication.
Zulfiqar Ahmed, owner of the vehicle, was also charged with the violation of clause 10A and 89(1) of Section 156(1) 2(s) 16 and 168 of the Custom Act, 1969.
Despite granting adequate and ample chances of personal hearing, the counsel for the respondent did not submitted any written reply to 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.
While Intelligence Officer Mohammed Tahir Iqbal appeared from the prosecution side and asserted that the seized vehicle fell 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 confiscation of the oil taker.
Therefore, Collector Raja Tahir Majeed after reviewing the record of the case commented the the charges levelled in the show cause notice, are established. He issued an ONO and ordered to impounded the vehicle under Section 156(1)89(1) of the Customs Act, 1969.
