KARACHI: The Customs Court directed investigation officer to submit final charge-sheet against the suspects in tax evasion cases.
The accused persons include Operation Manager of M/s M/s Allied Xpert Logistics, owner of M/S Arham & Co, Lahore, Ahmed Mirza Head (CSD) M/s AICT, Mehdi Sherwani, Manager (CSF-Shed) M/s AICT and others, who were booked in tax the evasion cases.
On August 29, 2018, investigation officer appeared before the court and sought further time to submit final charge-sheet; therefore, court granted time and adjourned the matter for next date of hearing.
According to the prosecution, Collectorate of Customs Appraisement West registered two FIRs against the above-mentioned suspects. According to FIR, on credible information, customs officials approached M/s AL-Hamd International Container Terminal, Karachi, where the containers were landed.
During the physical examination, they recovered mobile phones, tablets and batteries, thus authenticated the information earlier received and corroborated further information that once the information regarding the blocking of the consignments have been revealed to the importers/allied they would endeavour to either file a misdirected goods claim or try to replace the pallets with similar packing pallets to be imported or replaced by some other method in connivance with the AICT staff subsequently.
During the investigation, it was further revealed that the accused imported assorted model and brand mobile, tablets and batteries in the garb of t pallets disperse dyes code of goods 3204.11 and 4 pallets refrigerator parts code of goods 8418.99 and evaded duties and taxes involving in millions of rupees.
Case was registered for violation of 2 (s), 16, 32, 43 to 45, 138, 155D, 155E, 155H, 1551 and 178 of the Customs Act, 1969, read with SRO 566 (1)/ 2005 dated 06/06/2005 and Section 3 (1) of the Imports and Exports (Control) Act, 1950 punishable under Clauses 8, 9, 14, 100 & 101 of Section 156 (1) of the Customs Act, 1969, read with Section 3 (3) of the Sales Tax Act, 1990 and Section 148 of the Income Tax Ordinance 2000, further read with Appendix-B of import policy order.
