KARACHI: The Customs Court has given interim pre-arrest bail to suspect namely Muhammad Hanif, proprietor of M/s Getco Agencies, who was booked in three separates cases of fraudulent clearance of restricted goods in the garb of raw material for processing at Karachi Export Processing Zone (KEPZ).
During the hearing, the suspect appeared before the court along his counsel and moved the bail petition. After the arguments, the court approved the bail against the surety bonds of Rs 500,000 and issued notices to the Customs Department and special prosecutor for the Customs Department. The court directed them to file their comments on the next date of hearing. The court also directed the suspect to appear before the court on the next date of hearing for conformation of the bail.
Earlier, investigation officer appeared before the court and submitted initial reports in three separates FIRs and informed the court that during the investigation and circumstances, it is established that owners/ partners of M/s Insiya Packaging, Muhammad Hanif, proprietor of M/s Getco Agencies and others with the active connivance of their clearing agent and other associates have deliberately mis-declared description of the impugned goods and tried to replace the imported goods with other ones with the intent to get illegal clearance of the restricted items namely “Betel Nuts” and other items in the garb of raw material for processing at Karachi Export Processing Zone (KEPZ) Karachi and also evading legitimate amount of duties and taxes to the tune of million of rupees.
He further informed the court that a gang of culprits is engaged since long in illegal removal of the imported goods en route to KEPZ in an organized manner with the connivance of some black sheep in the customs department, role of tracking company is also very much suspicious in this case.
Investigation officer stated that cases were registered against them for violation of under section 2 (s) 16, 32A, 79 and 121 of the Customs Act, 1969 punishable under clauses 8 (i) 9, 14A, 43, 44, 45 and 63 of section 156 (1) ibid read with allied laws procedures and prosecution is trying its best for arrest of above mentioned suspects.
After the hearing, court had taken FIRs into court record and directed him to complete investigation and submit charge sheet against above mentioned suspects on next date of hearing.
