KARACHI: Customs Court Judge Syed Faiz Rasool Rashdi has granted the bail before arrest to a suspect, Muhammad Aslam Soomro, who was booked in a case of tax evasion of Rs 3291.72 million.
During the hearing, counsel for the suspect filed a bail application, saying that his client is innocent and is falsely implicated in this case. The counsel said that his client is ready to face trial, therefore, the court may grant him bail. After the arguments, the court granted him bail and observed in its order that,
“Without touching the merits of the case, ad-interim after-arrest bail is granted to accuse Muhammad Aslam Soomro s/o Allah Rakhio subject to surety in the sum of Rs 200,000 to the satisfaction of this court.”
The court also directed the accused to join investigation if and when required by investigation officer and attend the court on March 1, 2017 for conformation of bail application. The custom court also issued notice to the special prosecutor for the Custom Department and called police papers for the next date of hearing.
The court had already issued non-bailable warrants against 165 owners/ directors and representatives of different companies in this case.
According to the prosecution, the suspects were involved in issuance of fake/ flying invoices and evaded the duty and taxes in the tum of Rs 3291.72 million.
The case was registered under section 2(37) 2(9) 2(14) (a) 3(1) (a) (b) 6(1) & (2) 7(1) (2) (I) (II) 8 (1) (a) (ca) & (d) 8A, 21, 22 (1) (23) (1) 25, 126(1) and 73 of the sales tax 1990 punishable under section 33(3) (5) (8) (11) (c) (13) (16) (18) of the sales tax 1990.
