KARACHI: Customs Court Judge Syed Faiz Rasool Rashdi on Saturday extended the bail of suspects namely Arbab Khan, son of Ishtiaq Muhammad, Director of M/s Docks Pvt Ltd and others, who are allegedly involved in a case of attempting to smuggle 52158 kgs betel nuts valuing at Rs6,916,151 in Karachi.
During the hearing, investigation officer sought further time to submit final charge sheet, therefore, court grants time and extended the bail of accused.
On last date of hearing, counsel for the suspects moved bail petition for pre-arrest bail and argued that their clients are innocent and were falsely been implicated in this case, who are ready to face trail, however, they have apprehension of arrest, therefore, court may grant them bails, after the hearing, court also granted their pre-arrest bail against the surety of Rs2,00,000.
It needs to be pertained here that on last date of hearing, investigation officer had produced suspect Sohail Ali, proprietor of M/s Ajmair Impex (office no 12, Rashan-e-Mustafa Centre, Landa Bazar, Lahore) before the court and had informed that he is booked in another case registered in Lahore, therefore, customs authorities need to produce him in Lahore’s trail court, therefore, court may allow the officials to move him for Lahore and after the hearing, court sent him to Lahore on transit remand.
Earlier, investigation officer of Customs Collectorate Appraisement West Customs House Karachi had submitted interim charge sheet against suspects namely Sohail Ali, proprietor of M/s Ajmair Impex, Muhammad Khalid son of Usman, Operational Manager of M/s Docks Pvt Ltd, Sunny Raj, Project Manager M/s Docks Pvt Ltd, Shehzoor Hussain S/o Ghulam Hussain, loading supervisor of M/s Docks Pvt Ltd, Syed Uzair Ali son of Syed Afaq Ali, Computer Operator of M/s Docks Pvt Ltd, Mansoor Ahmed son of Naseer Ahmed, Director of M/s Docks Pvt Ltd, Arbab Khan son of Ishtiaq Muhammad, Director of M/s Docks Pvt Ltd and others.
Investigation officer further informed the court that during the investigation, it was revealed that above mentioned suspects declared goods on the basis of fake NOCs Galvanized Plain Sheets Prime and Secondary quality, quantity 52050 kgs valued at US 15094.50 equivalent to Rs. 1,701,468, however, during the search, officials of the customs authorities recovered 52158 kgs betel nuts valuing to Rs. 6,916,151, he submitted that they also evaded the amount of duty and taxes in the tune of Rs. 8,57,176.
According to the interim charge sheet, names of Shahzad Ahmed, Appraisement officer Model Customs Collectorate Appraisement West, Hussain S/o Ahmed, Sultan Mehmood and Muhammad Zafar Arshad have been mentioned in the charge sheet as witnesses of the prosecution.
After the hearing, court had accepted interim charge sheet and directed investigation officer to complete the investigation and submit final charge sheet against above mentioned suspects on next date of hearing.
