MULTAN: The Special Court of Customs Taxation and Anti-Smuggling imposed a fine of Rs 500,000 on two accused here on Tuesday who were arrested from Multan International Airport in a bid to smuggle foreign currency.
The Special Court of Customs Taxation and Anti-Smuggling declared both accused Muhammad Asghar and Muhammad Nawaz as guilty and imposed a cash penalty of Rs 500,000. The court has ordered the culprits to deposit the cash until the closure of the court and the fine was deposited by them.
It is pertinent to mention here that Customs staff deputed at Multan International Airport recovered almost 97000 foreign currency of Saudi Riyals, United Arab Emirate dirham and US dollars from passenger Muhammad Asghar and Muhammad Nawaz.
They were arrested by Customs staff during routine checking of passengers in arrival lounge at Multan International Airport and recovered foreign currency from pockets of both accused. Both accused were failed to produce any legal justification about recovered foreign currency and they had not declared their foreign currency at Multan International Airport. Both accused were going to Sharjah from Multan through Pakistan Airline PK -293.
Customs Investigation and Prosecution had lodged criminal case against them and detained their foreign currency. Accused interim bail applications were rejected on earlier hearings as they were failed to prove their innocence in court after which they submitted written confession in the court and requested leniency in currency smuggling case.
The Special Court of Customs Taxation and Anti-Smuggling Judge after considering their submission imposed fine of Rs 500,000 each and directed them to submit affidavit in the court that they will not claim their detained foreign currency in any court in future and recovered foreign currency will also be confiscated.
