KARACHI: The Customs Court approved post arrest bail application filed by suspect namely Muhammad Irfan, shipping agent of M/s ERA Marine Agencies, who in allegedly involved a case for evading duties and taxes in the tune of Rs74, 036, 216.
On September, 7, 2019, counsel for the applicant argued that the applicant is shipping agent who remained in custom’s custody for considerable time & investigation to his extent is completed by the investigation officer, therefore, court may grant his post arrest bail application.
After the hearing, court approved his bail against the surety of Rs400,000 and directed him to appear before the court on next date of hearing.
It needs to the pertained here that on last date of hearing, court had rejected interim pre-arrest bail to suspects namely Muhammad Iqbal, proprietor of M.M Trading, Qaiser Abbas, clearing agent, Muhammad Idress, Muhammad Ali, Muhammad Ahsan and Muzammil and after dismissal of interim pre-arrest bail, customs officials have arrested all above mentioned suspects from out-side the court room.
According to the interim charge sheet against Imran, owner of M/s Al-Aswed Associates, Muhammad Irfan, M/s ERA Marine Agencies, Ihtishaam and Muhammad Idress, M/s SHUFS Logistics, Muhammad Ali, Muhammad Ahsan, Muzamil and others and argued that an information was received that above mentioned importers imported a consignment declared to 92 bales of used clothing weighing 16600 kg manifested to have been shipped from United Kingdom contrary to actual port of loading Jabel Ali, UAE.
He further stats that information further revealed that the importers in active connivance with their clearing agents and other accomplices have mis-declared the description, quantity, origin, classification of the imported goods by submitting false, fake and fabricated information to evade legitimate of government revenue.
He disclosed that during the examination of said consignment, customs officials found multifunction printers, used laptops, laptops cables, smart phones, used LG tables with SIM and others goods having total value of Rs70,874,595.
Investigation officer said in his charge sheet that during the investigation, it was revealed that above mentioned importers submitted incorrect information committed a fraud by issuing false bill of lading by mentioning port of loading as London Gateway instead of actual port of loading Jabel Ali UAE, therefore, case was registered against them for violation of customs act and for incorrect information submitted to the customs have become basis this fraud/ offence and facilitated the importer and their accomplices to defraud customs as well as national exchequer.
According to the charge sheet Imran Haroon, Muhammad Irfan are confined in Central Jail Karachi and 6 suspects are still absconders in this case.