KARACHI: The Customs Taxation and Anti-Smuggling Court has granted interim pre-arrest bail to a suspect, Imtiaz Ahmed, against a surety bond of Rs 500,000. The suspect was booked for trying to smuggle kerosene oil in the garb of white spirit in violation of import policy.
During the hearing, counsel for the accused moved the petition for pre-arrest bail and after arguments, the court granted him bail. The court also directed him to appear before the court on the next date of hearing.
The court also issued notices to the special prosecutor for customs department and investigation officer for July 18, 2017 and directed them to file their respective comments on the next date of hearing.
According to the prosecution, proprietors/ partners/ directors of M/s Faras Combine Marketing Company Private Limited and others, including customs staff are involved in imported/ smuggled kerosene oil weighing 197995 7 MT in the garb of white spirit in violation of import restriction policy.
Case was registered for violating of import restriction as it was importable by approved oil marketing companies only. The accused people were charged in violation of provisions of Section 2(s), 16, 32(1), 79(1), 168 of the Customs Act, 1969, punishable under Section 156 (1) (8) (14) (4 3) (81) (82) (89) and 157(2) ibid, read with Section 3(1)3 of the Import and Export Control Act, 1950 and import restriction vide S#2 of Appendix-B (Part-II) to IPO, 2016, further read with clause (a) and (b) preamble to SRO 499(1)/2009 dated 13/06/2009, further read with SRO 566(1)/2005 dated 06/06/2005.
