KARACHI: Customs Court Judge Syed Faiz Rasool Rashdi has allowed the customs officials to shift a suspect Sohail Ali, to Lahore for investigation in another case registered in Lahore. The suspect is already booked in a case of attempting to smuggle 52,158 kilogram betel nuts worth Rs 6.91 million in Karachi.
During the hearing, investigation officer informed court that the customs authorities need to produce the suspect, proprietor of M/s Ajmair Impex, Landa Bazar, in a trail court in Lahore, therefore, the court may allow the officials to move him there.
It needs to be mentioned here that during the last date of hearing, the investigation officer of the Customs Collectorate Apprasement West Customs House Karachi had submitted interim charge sheet against Sohail Ali, proprietor of M/s Ajmair Impex, and officials of the M/s Docks (Private) Limited, including Muhammad Khalid, Operational Manager; Sunny Raj, Project Manager; Shehzoor Hussain, loading supervisor; Syed Uzair Ali, computer operator; Mansoor Ahmed, Director; Arbab Khan, another director and others.
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 kgs valued at US 15094.50 equivalent to Rs. 1,701,468, however, during the search, officials of the customs authorities recovered 52158 kilogram betel nuts valuing to Rs6,916,151, he submitted that they also evaded the amount of duty and taxes in the tune of Rs8,57,176.
According to the interim charge sheet, names of Shahzad Ahmed, Appraisement officer Model 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.
