KARACHI: Customs Court Judge Syed Faiz Rasool Rashdi has acquitted six suspects, Syed Faraz Alam, Syed Zaheer, Junaid Raza Rao, Muhammad Hanif Paracha, Fida Hussain Paracha and Abdul Latif Paracha in an alleged case of mis-declaration of mobile phones, laptops, mobile charges, PC, tablets and others goods.
During the hearing, the counsel for the applicants submitted that the applicants were innocent and were falsely implicated in this case, therefore, the court might acquit them.
However, the counsel for the tax department argued that prosecution has provided all evidences against the accused persons, therefore, they should be convicted.
After hearing the arguments from both sides, the court observed in the judgment that ” findings and after evaluation of whole evidence adduced by the prosecution, as discussed and guided by the order of the Sindh High Court, I hold that charge against the accused persons is not proved. Therefore, I acquit the above mentioned accused. They were presently on bail and their bail bonds stand cancelled “.
According to the prosecution, on a creditable information which was received on 1st September 2014 that container containing electronic and others goods had been imported by M/s ZEF Polymers through their clearing agent M/s Rao & Sons vide goods declaration on 28th August 2014 by mis-declarating the goods as ” plastic material “.
During the examination it was revealed that the importer had mis-declared the goods as the container was found to contain hug numbers of miscellaneous items like mobile phones, laptops, mobile chargers, pc, tablets and others goods. The investigators claimed that it was found that M/s Rao & Sons attempted to clear the goods for which they were not authorized to import.
The FIR was lodged for the offense 156 ( 14-A) (7) (85) and (86) of the Customs Act 1969 registered by office of the duty and Collector of Customs, Customs House Karachi.
