KARACHI: The Customs Court granted interim pre-arrest bail to suspect namely Muhammad Ashraf, owner of M/s H. H Trader Link and directed him to make sure his appearance on next date of hearing for conformation or otherwise, who was nominated in first information report in Rs5.401 million sales tax evasion scam.
On 5 January 2020, counsel for the accused moved court and filed bail application, he argued that his client is innocent and has been falsely implicated in this case, who is ready to submit surety and will appear on each and every date of hearing.
Earlier, investigation officer of Intelligence & Investigation-FBR submitted report that during the investigation, it was found that the suspect fraudulently got the sales tax registration as manufacturer whereas the said person does not have any manufacturing facility and does not exist at declared business address.
He further submitted that the accused person claimed and got sales tax refund fraudulently on the strength of fake/ flying invoices where the description of goods does not match with the nature of business of the accused person.
Investigation officer stated that accused connived with the so-called suppliers and obtained illegal sales tax refunds and had no investment to carry out such a huge volume of business, there was no business on ground but only paper arrangements were made to claim illegal sales tax refunds.
According to the prosecution, case was registered for violation of under section 2(9) 2 (16), 2 (17), 2 (37), 3, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 22, 23, 26, 37 and 73 of the sales tax act 1990 read with sales tax refund rules 2006 and punishable under section 33&34 of the sales tax act 1990.
