KARACHI: The Customs Court granted interim pre-arrest bail to suspect namely Abdul Moiz Majeed Bawany, who was booked in a case of attempting to smuggle non-duty paid 25,000kg betel nuts and evaded the duty and taxes in the tune of Rs3,532,550.
During the hearing on July 18, 2018, counsel for the applicant/accused submitted that as per the FIR, on information that M/s Al-Noor Enterprises Lahore would smuggled a consignment of betel nuts while being transshipped from Karachi to Lahore and replaced the betel nuts with the goods falsely declared in the TP goods declaration, surveillance was mounted and the consignment was selected for examination and the container was found to contain 25 metric ton of betel nuts. Inquiry revealed that the importer violated the relevant provisions of the import policy order and attempt to clear the betel nuts through mis-declaration and the same was accordingly seized.
He argued that accused having not been nominated in the FIR, he is neither importer nor clearing agent in respect of the subject consignment in bound to be implicated case, albeit falsely and maliciously, he further argued that customs officials harassing the applicant and threatened him to arrest in this case.
After the hearing, court granted him bail against the surety of Rs200,000 and directed him to appear before the court for confirmation of bail or otherwise. The court also issued notices to special prosecutor of customs department and investigation officer for comments.
Citing the State through R&D Wing, Customs Collectorate of Appraisement-East Customs House Karachi as respondent, he pleaded the court to grant him bail and restrain customs officials from arresting and harassing.
