KARACHI: The Customs Court directed investigation officer to complete investigation and submit progress report against Essa Farooq of M/s Essa Steel and others associates-in-crime who were booked in a case of evasion of duty and taxes by mis-using and illegally claiming benefits of SRO655(1)/2006 dated June 22, 2006.
On 12 December 2019, investigation officer appeared before the court along with first information report (FIR) and submitted that in pursuance of the information the documents relating to the consignments of steel sheet coils imported by the above mentioned importer is involved in the evasion of duty and taxes by mis-using SRO 566(1)/2006 by the way of clearing steel sheets in coils on concessionary rate of customs duty @1% instead of customs duty @20%.
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He further submitted that it is observed that out of 7 into-bond GDs, the description in 3 GDs differs with the description as per invoice, packing list and bill of lading, size of the steel sheet coils in 6 GDs does not match with the size allowed by the engineering development board (EDB) whereas grade/ specification has not been mentioned in the GD and packing list.
He argued that enclosed chart showing goods declarations-wise discrepancies is the integral part of the FIR, the modus operandi adopted by M/s Essa Steel was such that the imported goods were mis-declared to illegally avail the benefit of SRO 655(1)/2006, to get said goods cleared on reduced rate of duty and taxes thus causing loss to the national exchequer.
Investigation officer stated that the above mentioned importer has evaded customs duty and taxes amounting to Rs40,588,003 by mis-using and illegally claiming SRO655(1)/2006 and has violated the customs laws.
After the hearing, court taken FIR into court record and directed him to complete investigation and submit report on next date of hearing.
