KARACHI: The Customs Court has granted after-arrest bail to suspects namely Syed Mahmood Khan, son of Syed Abdul Alla, and Saleem Shah, son of Muhammad Rafiq, who were booked in a case of attempting to smuggle betel nuts and other contraband goods.
On Thursday, the court announced order on bail petitions and directed suspects to submit Rs300,000 each for surety of bail and appear before the court on next date of hearing.
On last date of hearing, counsel for the above-mentioned suspects had filed bail petition and argued that their clients are innocent and were falsely booked in this case and they are ready to face trail; therefore, court may grant their after-arrest bail.
It needs to be mentioned here that on last date of hearing, Iftikhar Hussian Khan, Senior Preventive Officer, ASO/HQ, MCC Preventive produced the suspects before the court and informed that the suspects were arrested on May 25, 2018 on the charges of smuggling of non-duty paid goods 23,974kg betel nuts valuing at Rs 5,657,864, loaded on Hino truck/trailer bearing registration number TMD-513, (Lasbella).
According to the prosecution, the case was registered by Anti-Smuggling Organization (HQ) NMB Wharf, Karachi against the above-mentioned accused for violation of under Section 2 (s), 156 (2), 157 (2), and 178 of Customs Act, 1969 punishable under Clause 8 & 89 of section 156 (i) ibid read with Section 3 (i) of Imports and Export Control Act, 1950.
