KARACHI: Customs Court Judge Syed Faiz Rasool Rashdi acquitted two suspects, Atif Raza son of Nasir Ali and Arif son of Ranoo Khan. The suspects were arrested for allegedly evading custom duty and taxes to the tune of Rs 979,327.
During the hearing, the counsel for the accused argued that the applicants have no link in this case. He said that they are innocent and were falsely implicated in the case, therefore, the court may acquit them.
However, the counsel for the customs authorities submitted that prosecution has provided all evidences against the accused persons and they should be convicted.
After hearing the arguments from both sides, the court acquitted both the accused and observed in the judgment that ” in view of findings and after evaluation of whole evidence adduced by the prosecution, as discussed, it has been established beyond any reasonable doubt that the prosecution has not succeeded in bringing the guilt of the accused at home and as such point is not proved and extending the benefit of doubt, therefore court acquit both the accused from the charge of under section 156 (1) (14) of the Customs Act. 1969. Both accused were present on bail, their bail bond stands discharged “.
According to the FIR registred on July 13, 2012, M/s M.Z Associates Karachi imported a consignment from Iran declared to contain Sec Butyl Acetate on August 15, 2012 and filed goods declaration on August 24,2012 through clearing agent M/s TIF Forwards for clearing of the same.
The investigators stated that the said consignment was assessed a $1.20 kg under PCT heading 2915.3990 attracting custom duty and taxes amounting to Rs. 969,561 which deposited by the importer. But during the examination, it revealed that the label pasted on the iron /steel drums reflects the description of imported goods as Butyl Acetate instead of Sec Butyl Acetate as declared in the imported documents. The importer had attempted to evade the custom duty and taxes to the sum of Rs 979,327. The FIR was lodged for under section 156 ( 1 ) ( 14 ) of the Customs Act. 1969.
