KARACHI: Customs Court Judge Syed Faiz Rasool Rashdi has issued notices to special prosecutor for Customs Department and called police papers on bail petitions of Arbab Khan, Director of M/s Docks (Private) Limited and others, who were allegedly involved smuggling of 52,158 kilogram betel nuts worth Rs 6.91 million. The court also directed the suspects to join the investigation if and when required by the investigation officer.
During the hearing, counsel for the suspects moved bail petitions for pre-arrest bail and argued that his clients were innocent and were falsely implicated in this case, who were ready to face trail. However, they have apprehension of arrest, therefore, the court may grant them bails. After the hearing, the court also granted them pre-arrest bail against the surety bonds of Rs 200,000 each.
It needs to be pertained here that on last date of hearing, investigation officer had produced suspect Sohail Ali, proprietor of M/s Ajmair Impex (office no 12, Rashan-e-Mustafa Centre, Landa Bazar, Lahore) before the court and had informed that he is booked in another case registered in Lahore, therefore, customs authorities need to produce him in Lahore’s trail court, therefore, court may allow the officials to move him for Lahore and after the hearing, court sent him to Lahore on transit remand.
Earlier, investigation officer Model Customs Collectorate Apprasement West Customs House Karachi had submitted interim charge sheet against suspects namely Sohail Ali, proprietor of M/s Ajmair Impex, Muhammad Khalid son of Usman, Operational Manager of M/s Docks Pvt Ltd, Sunny Raj, Project Manager M/s Docks Pvt Ltd, Shehzoor Hussain son of Ghulam Hussain, Loading Supervisor of M/s Docks Pvt Ltd, Syed Uzair Ali son of Syed Afaq Ali, Computer Operator of M/s Docks Pvt Ltd, Mansoor Ahmed son of Naseer Ahmed, Director of M/s Docks Pvt Ltd, Arbab Khan of Ishtiaq Muhammad.
Investigation officer further informed the court that during the investigation, it was revealed that above mentioned suspects declared goods on the basis of fake NOCs galvanized plain sheets prime and secondary quality, quantity 52050 kilograms valued at US$15094.50 equivalent to Rs1,701,468, however, during the search, officials of the customs authorities recovered 52158 kilograms betel nuts valuing to Rs. 6,916,151, he submitted that they also evaded the amount of duty and taxes in the tune of Rs. 8,57,176.
According to the interim charge sheet, names of Shahzad Ahmed, Appraising Officer Customs Collectorate Appraisement West, Hussain son of Ahmed, Sultan Mehmood and Muhammad Zafar Arshad have been mentioned in the charge sheet as witnesses of the prosecution.
After the hearing, court had accepted interim charge sheet and directed investigation officer to complete the investigation and submit final charge sheet against above mentioned suspects on next date of hearing.
