KARACHI: The one-member committee comprised of Additional Collector Irfan Javed has almost reached the conclusion of the investigation regarding the clearance of around 438 vehicles under Vehicle Amnesty Scheme (VAS) out of the way.
Sources informed Customs Today that the Committee has summoned the six customs officials including appraisers and principal appraisers on April 22 for final hearing, who were appointed at the Car Group (Group-VII) during that period.
Sources further disclosed that strict directives have been conveyed to the alleged customs officials regarding ensuring their presence with respective documents on April-22; otherwise firm departmental action would also be taken against those officials.
“The allegedly involved in VAS customs officials are not taking the inquiry seriously as they have not appeared before the Committee regularly in the previous hearings”, sources added.
They further said that the ADC Irfan Javed has summoned the customs officials through the departmental representative to ensure their presence on the last hearing.
When contacted, the Additional Collector Irfan Javed claimed that he will conclude the investigation in the month of April and send his findings into the investigation to the Federal Board of Revenue (FRB) for further legal proceedings.
It is pertinent to mention here that the Additional Collector Saeed Akram who conducted an inquiry into the same matter has already submitted his report in the end of March-2014.
In his findings, he held the Customs officials and officers responsible for clearance of vehicles under amnesty scheme by favoring the importers out of the way.