LAHORE: The Customs Intelligence & Investigation’s prosecution branch has booked two of its officials for illegally removing mobile phones from the State Ware House to M/s Canteen Stores Department (CSD).
The staff of the Directorate of Intelligence and Investigation, Lahore deposited mobile phones in the State Ware House, where an official was deputed to inspect the cell phones.
Intelligence officer Abdul Hameed at State Ware House was directed to produce 1703 mobile phone which had been confiscated. Despite, repeated requests, Abdul Hameed avoided producing mobile phones for couple of days on one pretext or another.
Subsequently, he came up with a story that the mobile phones had already been sold out to CSD Stares with the approval of Amjad Khaliq, the then superintendent after assessment from Dry Port Mughalpura. He submitted some papers regarding disposal of mobile phones against Rs1.488 million deposited at NBP Lahore. But, he failed to show any approval from the competent authority regarding the disposal/delivery of the said phones to CSD Stores.
Amjad Khaliq the then superintendent was noticed to appear in the Directorate and list of confiscated goods sold/issued to CSD stores bearing his signature was shown to him. Khaliq denied signing release/approval order to remove the goods from the warehouse.
However, Abdul Hameed submitted that the mobile phones were sold to CSD stores after the approval by the then superintendent after getting physical examination and valuation from dry port Lahore to M/s CSD. He obtained cheque of Rs1.48 million at the time of delivery from representatives of M/s CSD stores and deposited the same at NBP branch. There was no record of outward movement of the mobile phones at the State Warehouse.
The market value of the mobile phones is Rs11.3 million and duty/taxes were assessed at Rs4.86 million, while M/s CSD Stores bought these mobile phones for just Rs1.48 million from corrupt officials of Customs Intelligence & Investigation, Lahore.
An FIR has been lodged against Superintendent Abdul Khaliq and Intelligence Officer Abdul Hameed and further investigations are underway.
