KARACHI: Two appraising officers of the Collectorate of Customs Port Qasim were allegedly involved in illegal clearance of the surveying equipment imported by Chinese company, M/s BGP (Pakistan), causing a loss of Rs 513 million to the national exchequer, sources said.
On another incident, the FIA has deepened the investigation to collect more details from Deputy Collector of Air Freight Unit Karachi Airport and Collectorate Port Qasim Export.
Sources told Customs Today that Appraising Officers Syed Aqeel Akhar and Ali Bakhsh Matthan allegedly cooperated with the Chinese company to clear the surveying equipment on fake and forged corporate guarantees and unloaded consignment from the chartered airplane.
Sources revealed that during the raid, the FIA team found an original corporate guarantee on the letterhead of M/s BGP Pakistan bearing the address of the Collecter Custom Port Qasim from the possession of Muhammad Abid Siddiqi, the outdoor clerk of the clearing agent company M/s IMT Co.
It is pertinent to mention that the Anti-Corruption Circle (ACC) of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested the two Chinese nationals and registered a case against an oil and gas surveying company, its clearing agent, customs officials for submitting forged documents for clearance of surveying equipment causing Rs 513 million loss to government exchequer.
M/s BGP (Pakistan) International is also facing adjudicating proceedings before the customs authorities, but got a stay order from the Sindh High Court. The SHC directed the company to deposit 1 percent surcharge on all temporary imports.
M/s BGP Pakistan International has deposited Rs 160 million against 125 temporary imports. During the course of investigations, the FIA has calculated total outstanding amount against M/s BGP Pakistan International at Rs 513 million.
An FIA official said that involvement of two custom appraising officers has surfaced in the initial investigation but further inquiry may lead to involvement of other customs officials because the investigators understand that this mega scam was not possible to complete by low level staff.
