KARACHI: The Customs Court directed investigation officer to complete investigation and submit progress report against Muhammad Ashraf, owner of M/s H. H Trader Link and others, who were nominated in first information report in Rs5.401 millions sales tax evasion scam.
On 18 November 2020, investigation officer of FBR Intelligence & Investigation appeared before the court and informed the court that during the investigation, it was found that the suspect fraudulently got 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 do 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.
After the hearing, the court directed him to complete the investigation and submit a progress report till the next date of hearing.
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.
