KARACHI: Acting Judge of Customs Court has sent three suspects, Faisal Bin Muhammad, Sheraz Khan and Khan Bahadur, to the Customs Department on physical remand for January 4, 2017. The suspects were booked for attempting to smuggle more than 14,000 mobile phones in the garb of diplomatic privilege.
During the hearing, the investigation officer produced the suspects before the court and informed that a team of Anti-Smuggling Organization intercepted a container near Chamra Chowrangi and recovered 14,295 China branded mobile phones and on the inquiry of suspects, the customs authorities also recovered 594 cartons containing 8,296.24 kilogram auto parts from Malta Auto Spare Parts.
He further informed that total tentative value of goods is Rs 65,517,661 and duty and taxes are involved Rs30,008,59. The importer were brought into the country and claimed under mis-declaration for the port area in the garb of house hold goods under diplomatic privilege claiming admissible exemption thereof.
Investigation officer submitted that prosecution needs further investigation and arrest of absconder suspect namely Sajid Lakhani son of Abdul Lakhani, therefore, court may send them on physical remand. After hearing the arguments, counsel sent them to customs department and directed investigation officer to produce them on next date of hearing along with progress report.
Case was registered for violation of under section 2 (s) 16, 32 (1) & (2) 32 A, 79, 80 156, (2) 157 and 178 of the Customs Act, 1969, read with section 3 (1) of the Import and Export Control Act, 1990, further read with section 3, 6, 33 and 34 of the Sales Tax Act 1990 and other section and relevant provisions of allied laws.
