KARACHI: The Customs and Taxation Court reserved its judgment in a long–drawn gold smuggling case.
Judge Syed Faiz Rasool Rashdi reserved the judgment after hearing final arguments from both sides and set August 29 for its pronouncement.
According to the prosecution, in February 1996, the Anti-Smuggling Organization had seized 12000 tolas of gold worth Rs 600 million from a boat coming from International waters. Four suspects — Hussain, Dawood, Abbass and Muhammad Umer, who were on the boat, were arrested.
Subsequently, the custom authorities had registered a case against the accused under Sections of Customs Act 1969. The accused were later released by the court on bail.
Sources told Customs Today that it is a long-drawn smuggling case in the history of such cases as it suffered inordinate delays because of frequent transfers of investigation officers and prosecutors. Besides, the court had heard arguments four times and reserved the pronouncement of judgment two times but the decision could not be announced. Thus, the criminal trial re-opened again.
