KARACHI: Customs Court of Taxation, Anti-Smuggling Judge Syed Faiz Rasool Rashdi directed the Investigation Officer (IO) to return the passport and mobile phone of the convicted accused person namely Muhammad Asim son of Aziz-ur-Rahman. Asim was arrested for attempting to smuggle 114 mobile phones worth Rs 1,228,448 into the country.
During the hearing, counsel of the accused filed an application and stated that at the time of arrest, his passport and mobile phone were seized at Karachi International Airport by the staff of the customs authorities. Since the accused was declared guilty before this court and the court vide judgment dated 22/11/2016 convicted the accused, since the case has been decided, the seized passport and mobile phone are no more required by the prosecution as the same are not the case property.
He prayed the court may direct the investigation officer to release the passport and mobile phone to the applicant.
It needs to be pertained here that on last date of hearing, court had awarded 20 days imprisonment and Rs. One lac fine to above named accused person.
In default of payment of the fine, accused shell suffer S.I (simple imprisonment) for further 06 months, order said.
During the hearing, investigation officer had appeared before the court and produced the above named accused person, counsel for the accused/applicant had moved an applicant before the court for pleading guilty and left himself on the mercy of the court.
After the hearing, court had awarded 20 days imprisonment and Rs.100,000 fine to the accused person namely Muhammad Asim, in default of payment of the fine, accused shall suffer simple imprisonment for further 6 months.
According to the prosecution, on a credible information officials of the customs department intercepted the accused person and during the examination of his bag recovered 114 contraband mobile phones including Samsung 36, Motorolla 49 numbers, Huwewi 3 numbers, HTC 56 numbers and mobile phones batteries total valuing of Rs. 1, 228, 448/.
